São Paulo Logistics in Place to Begin Vaccination on January 25th, Says Health Secretary

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The São Paulo State Health Secretary Jean Gorinchteyn said that the authorization of the National Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) is all that is missing for vaccination against Covid-19 to begin in the state. All required supplies are guaranteed, he said in an interview with Radio Bandeirantes on Friday, January 1st.

Even the police support for transportation and at vaccination points has already been planned, according to the Secretary. “São Paulo has all logistics in place to begin immunization with the CoronaVac on the upcoming January 25th,” he assured. The doubts surrounding the efficacy of the vaccine administered to volunteers in trials in Brazil will not hinder the start of the campaign, he said.

“It’s not right that 45 countries are vaccinating and Brazil is still wondering if it will buy [the vaccine] or not (…). We can’t accept that,” he said in the interview. ANVISA registration will be applied next week, although the vaccine’s data on efficacy have not been disclosed, according to the Secretary.

The São Paulo government has already bought over 70 million syringes and needles to administer the vaccine in the state. “We already have the vaccines, we have 10.8 million vaccines on Brazilian soil – we received the last batch on December 30th – and we have the syringes. We are waiting for ANVISA clearance to vaccinate as soon as possible”, said Gorinchteyn.

In São Paulo, the search for syringes and needles began in early September, recalled the Secretary. According to him, “it is no use if only São Paulo begins vaccination, we need the whole country.” The electronic bid held on December 29th by the federal Ministry of Health to buy syringes and needles for the vaccination campaign failed completely. The portfolio intended to buy 331.2 million items, but secured only 7.9 million, as suppliers said the minimum bid price was too low.