Brazilian judge authorizes vaccine import without donation to National Health System

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Judge Rolando Valcir Spanholo, from the 21st Federal Court in Brasilia, authorized three entities to import vaccines against Covid-19. The decision is not definitive and can still be appealed.

The injunction was motivated by actions filed by the Union of Police Detectives of the State of São Paulo, the Brasiliense Association of Receptive Tourism Agencies and the Union of Servers of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Minas Gerais.

In granting the temporary restraining order requested by the plaintiffs, the magistrate considered unconstitutional Article 2 of Law 14.125/21. By the device, private legal entities can buy vaccines that have obtained emergency clearance by the National Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), but requires the donation of part of the immunizers to the National Health System (SUS).

“It should be noted that this is not about cutting in line, or breaking the order of preference in the application of vaccines purchased by the government. Here we are talking about allowing the strength, competence, agility and power of dispute of our civil society to arrive earlier and guarantee the maximum possible additional doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to ensure the health and life of more Brazilians,” argued judge Spanholo.

Earlier this month, the same judge also authorized the Union of Autonomous Drivers of Private Individual Transport by Applications of the Federal District (Sindmaap) to purchase vaccines. That decision was overturned by the Federal Appellate Court of the 1st Region (TRF1).

Source: Agência Brasil