Approved for emergency use of AstraZeneca/Sinovac vaccine in Brazil

Monica Calazance, a nurse working at a hospital in Sao Paulo, became the first vaccinator of the Chinese Synovac vaccine in Brazil on the 18th (local time). © AFP=News1

Brazilian health authorities have approved the emergency use of a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine from AstraZeneca in the UK and Sinobac in China.

On the 17th (local time), the Financial Times reported that the National Sanitation Bureau of the Ministry of Health of Brazil held an open meeting and unanimously approved the emergency use of the vaccine for AstraZeneca and Sinovac.

As a result, Monica Calazance, a 54-year-old nurse working in Sao Paulo, became the first vaccinator of the Synovac vaccine. Health Minister Eduardo Pazuelu said that up to 1 million people per day will be able to get the Corona 19 vaccine.

The vaccines approved for emergency use in Brazil this time amount to 6 million doses of Synovac vaccine and 2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine. The effectiveness of AstraZeneca and Synovac vaccines is about 70% and 50%, respectively.

Brazil’s Corona 19 death toll is 210,000, the second highest in the world. Vaccination will be given priority in Manaus, the state of Amazonas, which is suffering from shortages in hospital rooms and oxygen due to a rapid increase in the number of confirmed and dead.

[email protected]