Claiming Brazil already has “sufficient doses,” Health Minister discards Covaxin and Sputnik V

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga on Wednesday, July 14, assured that the number of vaccine doses already contracted by the National Immunization Plan will be sufficient to vaccinate the entire Brazilian population over the age of 18 against Covid-19 by the end of this year.

As the total estimated volume which has received approval from the Brazilian health regulatory agency (ANVISA) is either for definitive or emergency use, the Minister said that there is no need to purchase additional vaccine doses, such as the Indian Covaxin or the Russian Sputnik V.

The Minister stated this during a hearing at the Chamber of Deputies’ Social Security and Family Commission. Queiroga pointed out that Brazil has bought a total of 600 million doses, with 100 million to be delivered by August.

A target of investigation by the Senate parliamentary inquiry committee (Covid CPI), the Covaxin immunizer, whose use has been ruled out by the Minister, had its purchase contract suspended due to a “matter of convenience and opportunity.” According to Queiroga, the Covaxin contract had been signed before his administration.

He pointed out that he dismissed Roberto Dias, the portfolio’s Logistics director, accused of demanding a US$1 per dose kickback in exchange for signing the Covaxin contract.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Health will not include in the National Immunization Program any vaccines that have not been approved by ANVISA in a definitive or emergency basis because we understand that the number of doses we have is enough to immunize the population by the end of this year,” he said.

The Ministry’s current efforts are to anticipate the delivery of doses, he said. According to Queiroga, the Ministry was able to anticipate the 1.8 million Janssen doses planned for the last quarter this year, and 7 million Pfizer vaccine doses for July, “which ensures that our campaign will advance effectively.”

Source: Exame