Butantan Director Says Chinese CoronaVac Could Provide Over 97 Percent Immunity

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Butantan Institute director Dimas Tadeu Covas, said yesterday in an interview to Jovem Pan radio that with two doses, the CoronaVac vaccine being developed in partnership with Chinese pharmaceutical giant Sinovac could provide more than 97 percent immunity against the coronavirus.

If the vaccine proves to be safe, the state of São Paulo may have 45 million doses this year, according to governor João Doria at a press conference.

“This vaccine [Sinovac and Butantan] is already being applied in two doses, with a 14-day gap, to allow greater antibody production. The duration will be determined with the trials. We must wait to see if an annual booster will be needed or not, but studies show that the vaccine is effective. With two doses we will be able to achieve over 97 percent protection, and this is crucial to break the Coronavirus transmission chain,” he said.

Covas further stated that he is confident about the efficacy of the technology against Covid-19, which is in its final trials stage and will still require ANVISA (National Health Regulatory Agency) approval.

“We are working hard so that the vaccine comes as soon as possible. There are regulatory aspects that rely on clinical trials, but I’m very optimistic, having its efficacy demonstrated, that ANVISA will give priority [to registration], as this vaccine can influence the evolution of the pandemic,” he explains.

The director recalled that, should CoronaVac work, Brazil could be the first country to have large-scale administration. He also said that vaccination will be determined by the Ministry of Health criteria.

“At first, it would be best to vaccinate people who did not have Covid-19, as well as health and public safety professionals, the elderly and people with co-morbidities. We are not working yet with the herd immunity assumption, in Brazil, without the vaccine. Hence the need to maintain quarantine, because it is such measures that will hold the pandemic until we have a vaccine.”