Sputnik V vaccine’s controversy in Brazil, explained

Brazil recently surpassed the milestone of 400,000 Covid-19 deaths amid widespread community transmission of the coronavirus and a sluggish vaccination campaign. Largely using the Chinese-made CoronaVac vaccine, the country has administered at least one shot to 32 million people — just over 15 percent of the entire population. Cities from 20 of Brazil’s 27 states — including seven state capitals — have stopped vaccination altogether, reporting a lack of supplies. Meanwhile, the Brazilian government ensures it has purchased a total of 500 million shots. However, a huge portion only exists on paper, and delivery estimates are suffering repeated delays.

On Friday, Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga addressed the World Health Organization (WHO), asking for vaccine donations to “contain this critical phase of the pandemic.”

Amid this state of delay and confusion, governors from multiple Brazilian states thought they had found the solution in the Russian-made coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V. Approved in 64 countries, it was the first registered Covid-19 immunizer in history, boasting a 91.6 percent efficacy rate according to studies published in medical journal The Lancet.

A group of state governors from Brazil’s Northeast decided to import 37 million doses of Sputnik V, before the Jair Bolsonaro government announced its own 10-million-vaccine purchase. But these best-laid plans were cast asunder last week, when Brazilian health regulator Anvisa rejected all import requests for the immunizer, alleging safety concerns.

Last Monday, after weeks-long pressure to approve Sputnik V for use in Brazil, Anvisa denied a joint import order issued by ten state governments, claiming a lack of data and identifying manufacturing faults that could pose a risk to human health.

As is the case...