Coronavirus

Health Ministry won’t guarantee dose deliveries for states straying from national plan

Health Ministry won't guarantee dose deliveries for states straying from national plan
Image: Paitoon/Shutterstock

The Health Ministry announced it will not commit to supplying vaccines to states and municipalities that decide to follow their own vaccination timetables. The decision comes after the São Paulo state government announced it will provide booster shots for citizens aged 60 and over as of September 6. 

The government also criticized the decision to provide booster shots, as well as reducing intervals between doses or mixing doses of different vaccines. “Veering from federal recommendations may compromise vaccine security and efficacy, and lead to shortages.” São Paulo fought back by saying it will not prioritize Pfizer for booster shots, as recommended by the Health Ministry and health experts alike. Instead, citizens are encouraged to receive “any vaccine available.”

As we explained late in July, discussions about third doses and booster shots revived vaccine wars between President Jair Bolsonaro and São Paulo Governor João Doria.