Coronavirus

Government wants to speed up vaccination in Amazonas

amazonas coronavirus
Patient from Amazonas is transferred as Photo: Ricardo Amanajas

The Brazilian Health Ministry is preparing a proposal to a council of health officials from all 27 states to speed up Covid-19 vaccination in the northern state of Amazonas. The move comes as Amazonas experiences a surge of coronavirus cases and deaths — and local hospitals are suffering from a shortage of oxygen tanks.

In January, approximately 5 percent of a shipment of 2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, arriving from India, were sent to Amazonas as an attempt to curb the crisis. A total of 555,000 doses have been distributed so far — mainly to health workers and over 70s.

The state government of São Paulo suspended the shipment of 50,000 doses of the Chinese-made CoronaVac to Amazonas, due to the state’s “lack of control and planning” in its vaccination effort. Late in January, courts suspended immunizations following multiple reports of officials and wealthy business owners cutting in line. The shipment will be sent after a statewide plan is elaborated. 

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