São Paulo state wants to buy vaccines independently of federal government

São Paulo Governor João Doria said on Wednesday that the state’s Butantan Biological Institute will only be able to meet the Health Ministry’s request for 30 million doses of the CoronaVac vaccine if the federal government allows other authorities to purchase vaccines from other laboratories.

As of today, the two 100 million-dose contracts signed between the institute and the federal government state that the Health Ministry has “exclusive rights in the acquisition of doses produced or imported” by Butantan. The government requested an extra batch of 30 million doses from Butantan on February 18. 

According to Mr. Doria, regardless of the government’s schedule, São Paulo state “will buy another 20 million doses of the Butantan vaccine to supplement vaccination if necessary.” Several cities and states have suspended immunization due to supply shortages. 

Amid the disagreement, the Butantan Biological Institute has until September 30 to provide the doses agreed upon with the federal government.

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