Brazil Will Not Have Mass Immunization in 2021 – W.H.O. Deputy Director-General

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) Deputy Director General, Mariângela Simão, said yesterday that it is possible to “be sure” that Brazil will not have mass vaccination against the novel coronavirus in 2021.

“There won’t be enough vaccines next year to inoculate the entire population, so the W.H.O. is advising a prioritization to inoculate healthcare professionals and people over 65 years of age or who have some associated disease,” she said in an interview to CNN Brasil.

Mariângela also said that “it is reasonable” to assume that by late 2021, “provided all goes well,” there will be “two or three approved vaccines” against Covid-19.

“I would say that 2022 is the year when we will have more vaccines because we have so many under development… It’s likely that we will still have other vaccines that come next year proving to be safe and effective,” she pointed out.

“The important thing now is not to immunize everyone in a country, which is impossible, but rather to immunize those who need it in every country,” she concluded.

Johnson & Johnson suspends clinical trials of vaccine

On Monday, the American Johnson & Johnson temporarily suspended clinical trials of its vaccine against the novel coronavirus “due to an unexplained condition in a trial subject,” said the company.

Phase 3 of Johnson & Johnson vaccine began recruiting volunteers in late September mainly in the United States, but also in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and also Brazil.

Brazil’s ANVISA (National Health Regulatory Agency) confirmed yesterday that it was notified by Johnson & Johnson of the suspension of trials and said that the study “will remain interrupted” in Brazil until the subject’s adverse reaction is explained.

Source: UOL