For Bolsonaro, Vaccine Manufacturers Should Seek Brazil, Not Vice Versa

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – At a time when several countries, including some in Latin America, are announcing the start of immunization against Covid-19, President Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the government’s delay in releasing and purchasing vaccines.

According to him, given the “tremendous” consumer market in Brazil, pharmaceutical firms should be interested in applying for authorization from ANVISA (National Health Regulatory Agency) to sell their vaccines to Brazil.

“Brazil has 210 million inhabitants, a huge consumer market for anything. Shouldn’t laboratories be interested in selling to us? Why don’t they submit documentation to ANVISA?”, Bolsonaro rhetorically asked a group of supporters at the Alvorada Palace in Brasília yesterday morning.

“People say I have to chase the vaccine. Those who want to sell it have to do that,” he said.

Bolsonaro reiterated the fact that the vaccine package inserts point out that responsibility for using the drug and potential side effects lies with the consumer and also that he will not take the vaccine because he has already contracted Covid-19.

According to the President, he has already signed the “R$20 billion check” for the purchase of vaccines, referring to the Provisional Measure authorizing the release of funds for the purchase of immunizers and other items needed in the vaccination campaign, such as needles and syringes.

“There are many people with an eye on this money,” he said, without mentioning names. “It’s striking how one person or another we know, I won’t say their name here, they would never worry about other people’s lives. Their concern is another. I won’t say what it is”, he added.

Vaccination has no starting date

Bolsonaro again stated that he is not worried about the start of the vaccination campaign in Brazil because the process depends on ANVISA. “If I go to ANVISA and say ‘hurry up in there’, they will say that I am interfering,” completed the President.

The federal government has memoranda of intent to purchase vaccines from Butantan Institute/Sinovac, AstraZeneca/Oxford and Pfizer/Biontech, but no deal has been closed yet. There is still no date set for the start of the immunization campaign.