New deals may raise number of vaccine estimated for 2021

Existing contracts encompass nearly 355 million doses this year

Published on 10/02/2021 - 11:42 By Vinícius Lisboa - Rio de Janeiro

Recent talks held by the Health Ministry to incorporate doses of vaccines Sputnik V and Covaxin into the national vaccination plan against COVID-19 may raise the total amount of doses estimated for 2021 up to 384.9 million.

The agreements inked by Rio de Janeiro’s Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and Butantan Institute, in São Paulo, coupled with the admission into international consortium Covax Facility and the import of ready-made doses of vaccine Oxford/AstraZeneca, had previously indicated the country would gain access to 354.9 million doses by the end of 2021.

The strides made in the negotiations with representatives from Russian and Indian developers may add over 30 million doses to this amount, should these purchases be made and the two vaccines are granted authorization by Brazil’s regulator Anvisa. The ministry also reports it has held talks with US pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen.

Sputnik V and Covaxin

The Health Ministry announced it started Monday (Feb. 8) to write a contract draft for the purchase of 20 million doses of Indian vaccine Covaxin, which will be manufactured by Indian laboratory Bharat Biotech. The total number of doses should arrive in Brazil in five shipments of 4 million doses, the first of which 20 days after the signing of the contract, the last 70 days later.

The vaccine will undergo phase 3 clinical trials in Brazil in a collaboration between the Indian laboratory and Albert Einstein Hospital’s Israelite Teaching and Research Institute, in São Paulo, because phase 3 trials are yet to be concluded in India, even though the Asian country has authorized the beginning of vaccination for the local population with Covaxin.

On Sputnik, talks are underway for the purchase of 10 million doses. Brazil is estimated to receive 400 thousand doses a week after the deal is signed. Another 2 million should be in Brazil a month afterwards, and yet another 7.6 million in up to three months.

Negotiations gained a new lease of life after Anvisa altered the rules on the authorization of the emergency use—not yet granted to Sputnik V. The watchdog has waived the conduction of phase 3 tests in Brazil and started accepting test results reached overseas.

Translation: Fabrício Ferreira -  Edition: Claudia Felczak / Nira Foster

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