Today, we explain why the coronavirus vaccine race has brought the 2022 presidential election forward to 2020. The ghost of hyperinflation haunts Brazil again. And a massive infrastructure gamble by the government.
Brazil’s crazy vaccine race brings presidential election forward
The Brazilian very own vaccine race has officially started, with São Paulo Governor João Doria announcing the start of his state’s Covid-19 immunization plan for January 25. The state is collaborating with Chinese lab Sinovac Biotech to develop the CoronaVac, of which phase 3 clinical trials are expected to be concluded in the coming weeks. By announcing his state’s plans, Mr. Doria — who has done little to disguise his presidential ambitions — has coaxed President Jair Bolsonaro into action, despite the president having adopted a vaccine-skeptic approach.
- In his announcement, the governor said that any Brazilian resident — whether they live in São Paulo or not — may receive the vaccine, raising fears in cities along state lines of a massive inflow of “vaccine tourists.”
Reaction. Hours after the São Paulo announcement, news broke that the Brazilian government “advanced in negotiations for an intended purchase of 70 million doses” of the Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer. Just last week, Health...