Pfizer vaccine the first to get permanent approval in Brazil

Brazilian health regulator Anvisa granted permanent approval to the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, making it the first immunizer to clear all regulatory hurdles in the country. 

Despite regulatory approval, the vaccine is currently unavailable for the national immunization plan, as purchase talks with the federal government have stalled. The Jair Bolsonaro administration says the conditions imposed by Pfizer are “abusive,” including its demand to waive any liability for side effects caused by the vaccine.

On Monday, Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco proposed a way of splitting the baby, with states and municipalities sharing responsibility for potential risks.

Following the announcement, Anvisa President Antonio Barra Torres added that he hopes other vaccines obtain approval soon. Currently, only the Chinese-made CoronaVac and the AstraZeneca vaccine are in use in Brazil, both under emergency use approval. 

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