Coronavirus

São Paulo holds back trial results to request formal CoronaVac approval

João Doria has changed his tactics to put pressure on the federal government to purchase the Chinese-made CoronaVac vaccine.
Photo: Seda Servet/Shutterstock

São Paulo Governor João Doria has changed his tactics to put pressure on the federal government to purchase the Chinese-made CoronaVac vaccine, being tested by his administration. 

The state was supposed to release results of the CoronaVac’s phase 3 trials today, in order to request temporary authorization to use the vaccine in the state. Instead, local authorities will submit the complete version of studies on December 23 and file for definitive approval from health regulator Anvisa.

Chinese regulators are expected to issue definitive approval for the CoronaVac later this week — which would force Brazil’s federal regulators to analyze the vaccine within three days.

A law passed in February states that authorities may grant “exceptional and temporary approval” to import any health materials, inputs, medicines, or equipment that are deemed crucial to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, and which have been authorized by foreign regulatory agencies.

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