Brazil gov’t temporarily suspends Covaxin deal

Brazil’s Ministry of Health has announced the temporary suspension of the contract on the purchase of Indian vaccine Covaxin. In a note, it justified the move by mentioning a recommendation from the country’s office of the Comptroller General (CGU).

“Regarding the contract for the Covaxin vaccine, which has prompted much debate, I have worked in partnership with CGU officials, and, following their recommendation, as a matter of convenience and opportunity, we decided to suspend the contract so that more in-depth analyses may be conducted,” said Brazil’s Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga during a Tuesday (Jun. 29) interview in Brasília.

The government had negotiated the purchase of 20 million doses of the jab. On June 15, the country’s sanitary regulator Anvisa exceptionally authorized the import of Covaxin and Sputnik V, with disclaimers.

In a note, the ministry further declared that the government “did not pay a cent for the Covaxin vaccine,” adding that the measure “does not compromise the pace of the vaccination campaign in Brazil, as no approval has been granted by Anvisa for the emergency or definitive use of the inoculation.”

Parliamentary committee of investigation at the Senate, which looks into the government’s omission in tackling the pandemic. - Pedro França/Agência Senado

Investigation

The suspension took place days after a testimony from representative Luís Miranda from pro-government party DEM and his brother, the head of imports at the Ministry of Health, Luís Ricardo Miranda was heard by a parliamentary committee of investigation at the Senate, which looks into the government’s omission in tackling the pandemic.

On the occasion, the ministry’s head of imports mentioned atypical pressure for signing the Covaxin deal and issues in the import process, like an initial attempt at an early payment and the use of a company not listed in the agreement.

The case has also been brought under scrutiny by the country’s Prosecution Service.