RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Unless the Ministry of Health exercises its option to purchase an additional 54 million doses of the Coronavac, the Butantan Institute could direct the production of the vaccine against Covid-19 to other countries, the Institution’s president Dimas Covas said on Wednesday, January 27th.
The contract signed between the Institute and the Ministry provides for the delivery of 46 million doses by April, with an option of 54 million additional doses to be delivered by mid-year. “The Butantan has commitments, agreements to deliver vaccines to other countries and should Brazil not acquire these 54 million we will prioritize other countries with which we have agreements.”
According to Covas, the Butantan has signed agreements covering the sale of 40 million doses to Latin American countries. “These countries are demanding a schedule and we are dependent on the Ministry’s reply. If there is no decision, we will direct the production to attend these countries, including the option of increasing the offer of vaccines, given that demand is high”, he said.
Covas said he sent a letter to the Ministry of Health during the week and expects a reply by the end of this week. “Next week I will sign the contracts with these countries, starting with Argentina,” he said.
If the Ministry’s reply is affirmative there will be planning to produce the 54 million doses for the Brazilian government and another 40 million for neighboring countries.
Source: Valor Invest