This week, our main topic is the regulatory clearance of two coronavirus vaccines that will kickstart Brazil’s immunization campaign.
Brazil finally starts vaccinating citizens
After 8.5 million Covid-19 infections and nearly 210,000 deaths, Brazil managed to administer its first doses of coronavirus vaccines. On Sunday, federal regulatory agency Anvisa approved two vaccines for emergency use: one by AstraZeneca and the other by China’s Sinovac. Moments later, Governor João Doria of São Paulo held a ceremony and vaccinated people from at-risk groups.
- The very first jab was given to nurse Monica Calazans, 54, who works in the intensive care unit of the Emílio Ribas Institute, São Paulo’s flagship medical facility. “I was criticized with jokes, memes. I was called a guinea pig. I’m not a guinea pig. My name is all around the world: black, Brazilian, and participant in a vaccine trial. Let’s get vaccinated — don’t be afraid,” she said, during a press conference.
Why it matters. Anvisa’s decision greenlights the use of 6 million shots of CoronaVac, which were imported from China, and 2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine — which will be imported from India once the purchase is approved by that country’s government.
- In the CoronaVac...