Brazil Health Ministry Now Expects Vaccination to Start between January 20th and February 10th

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Health said yesterday, December 29th, that it intends to initiate the vaccination process against Covid-19 in Brazil between late January and early February. However, the portfolio stressed that vaccine manufacturers need to be registered with ANVISA [National Health Regulatory Agency] for emergency or regular use.

Executive Secretary Élcio Franco stressed in a press conference that the Ministry hopes to start vaccination on January 20th, 2021. According to him, the deadline would be February 10th.

The date hinges on several factors, such as authorizations by ANVISA, logistics and the supply of doses by manufacturers, completed Health Surveillance Secretary Arnaldo Medeiros.

“The Ministry of Health has done its part, we have developed the [national immunization] plan, we are preparing the operation for this great day, but we need laboratories to apply for registration and for the vaccine to be delivered so that we may distribute it.”

Franco also pointed out that the portfolio does not select vaccine “A or B” according to their country of origin. “All vaccines that ensure safety and efficacy are of interest to us,” he said.

He emphasized that only through immunization will it be possible to return to activities safely, and stressed the need for adequate information about vaccines and vaccination so as not to frighten the population or discourage those working in this direction.

The government of São Paulo has scheduled the beginning of vaccination for January 25th, a date that has been maintained despite the delay in disclosing the official data on the CoronaVac’s Phase 3 trials last week.

Thus far, no laboratory has applied to ANVISA for emergency use authorization of vaccines in Brazil.

The federal government estimates that 108 million doses of a vaccine are required for priority groups. The Ministry of Health considers that Brazil has already “guaranteed” access to 300 million doses of vaccines against Covid-19 through Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/AstraZeneca, 100.4 million doses until July/2021 plus 30 million doses per month in the second semester); the Covax Facility consortium (42.5 million doses); and Pfizer pharmaceutical company (70 million doses).

On Monday, December 28th, President Jair Bolsonaro used inaccurate or unsupported scientific data to claim that he never “made a mistake” in any measure taken against the pandemic. He also said again that “there is no need to be terrified” of the coronavirus and that he will not be vaccinated once an immunizer is available in Brazil.

Franco said the Ministry was allocated R$198.1 billion in 2020 – R$133.9 billion under the Annual Budget Law plus R$64.2 billion in extraordinary funds to fight Covid-19. He mentioned the Ministry’s efforts in the provision of ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds and equipment, in addition to the purchase of intubation drugs.

The Executive Secretary also said that 5.8 million chloroquine and 302,000 hydroxychloroquine units have been distributed to date, according to state requests. Neither drug has been proved effective against Covid-19.

In addition, 21 million units of Oseltamivir, designed to treat the H1N1 flu and unproven against Covid-19, have been distributed.

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