Rio de Janeiro: Brazil is preparing to purchase and distribute the Covid-19 vaccine developed in India.
The Brazilian Association of Vaccine Clinics (ABCVAC), an organization of private clinics in Brazil, has launched a preliminary process to make available the covid vaccine, developed by Indian pharmaceutical company Bharat Biotech.
The final test of Covacs is yet to be completed but has been approved for emergency use in India. ABCVAC has confirmed on its website that it has reached an agreement with Biotech to buy five million doses of the vaccine. But the final decision rests with Anvisa, the Brazilian health regulator.
Brazil has the second highest number of Covid deaths globally behind the US. President Jair Bolsonaro and the administration have come under fire for delaying the distribution of the vaccine.
ABCVAC said the decision to import and distribute the vaccine was based on the idea that the private healthcare system should benefit the people, especially the affluent.
The organization added that the private distribution of the vaccine will be a priority for senior citizens and health workers in the public distribution system.
ABCVAC President Geraldo Barbosa told Globo News that the private market aims to make the vaccine available to all and that the Indian vaccine has been tested to be very effective.
Two vaccines – Covacin and Oxford-Covshield, manufactured in India in association with the Serum Institute developed by Astra Senaka – were approved by the Drug Controller General on Sunday.
Covshield will be delivered in the first few weeks. Distribution will begin after the completion of the third phase of Covacs testing.