Brazil to donate 1 million vaccine doses to Venezuela
São Paulo–based Butantan Institute, one of the world’s main scientific research center, will donate to Venezuela 1 million doses of the vaccine against flu, and 1.7 thousand laboratory flasks with serum against serpent and spider bites.
The announcement was made Saturday (Feb. 23) by São Paulo state Governor João Doria during a ceremony for the expansion and revamp of the institute’s flu vaccine factory. The goal, he said, “is to help the Venezuelan population at a time when the country is facing a serious political and humanitarian crisis.”
According to Doria, the donations will be sent chiefly to residents on the Venezuelan borders with Brazil. “In April, we’ll donate 1 million doses of the vaccine against the flu to protect the population in the border area. These vaccines will serve both Brazilians and Venezuelans,” he said.
Expansion
After Butatan Institute’s factory was revamped and expanded last year, the institute had the capacity to manufacture 140 million vaccine doses a year. This enabled the São Paulo state to have the biggest factory of anti-influenza vaccine in the Southern Hemisphere, making Brazil self-sufficient in its production.
The institute reported efforts to adapt its factory for pre-qualification with the World Health Organization, which is expected to make it possible for the vaccine against the flu produced by the institute to be provided to other countries.
