RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Ex-Minister of Health Luiz Henrique Mandetta said on Wednesday, January 27th, that within 60 days Brazil may experience a mega-epidemic caused by the new variant of the coronavirus, detected in Manaus.
According to him, the transfer of patients to other states may increase the spread of this new strain.
“Today we have four major health crises. And we are entering a fifth crisis which is this new strain, this variant from Manaus. The whole world is blocking flights to Brazil and Brazil is not only open as usual, but it is also taking patients from Manaus and transferring them to Goiás, sending them to Bahia, sending them to other locations with no bio-safety barriers. We will probably plant this strain in all federal territories and in 60 days we could have a mega-epidemic”, he explained.
Vaccines
Asked about which would be his preferred vaccine, the ex-Minister said that, for individual use, Pfizer’s would be the best option, with 95% efficacy. However, for collective immunization in Brazil he mentioned the Coronavac and AstraZeneca/Oxford’s vaccines. “For a country like Brazil, of continental proportions, which has no way of getting a vaccine at -70ºC to all corners. Both the Coronavac and the AstraZeneca vaccines, stored between 2º and 8º, are the best suited. And whichever is available, I will take it.”
Widespread notoriety
Mandetta received widespread notoriety in 2020 for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. The Health Minister contradicted President Bolsonaro on numerous occasions; while Mandetta defended social distancing measures in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Bolsonaro opposed such measures and has criticized state governors who implemented lockdowns in their states.