A healthcare nurse received the first Brazilian vaccine roll out dose after health authorities gave emergency permission for two jabs.
Administrator Anvisa has provided a green light on vaccines from Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinovac of China, the jabs of which will be distributed in all 27 provinces.
Brazil’s President Bolsonaro’s Handling Of The Pandemic
Brazil’s vaccination program has begun later than most of its regional counterparts.
This is despite the seriousness of the human condition, as well as the world’s second-highest mortality rate.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has played down the pandemic since the beginning, has come under fire again in recent months as Brazil has passed the second worst wave of the virus.
The far-right leader has played down the pandemic from the beginning, promoted an unproven treatment for the disease and gone against measures including mask-wearing and social distancing. He said he will not take a vaccine.
COVID Scenario In Brazil
Authorities said 551 people died on Sunday, the first time in six days that it had been reduced from 1,000.
In all, more than 209,000 Covid-related deaths have been reported in Brazil, the only figure surpassed by the US alone.
More than 8.4 million diseases have been confirmed since the pandemic began – the third highest in the world.
Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello told reporters that the national immunization program for 211 million people in the country would begin in earnest in the coming days. Two biomedical centers in Brazil that have been licensed to produce jabs will be heavily involved.
The Vaccine Roll-Out
Shortly after Anvisa’s board gave emergency approval, Monica Calazans, a 54-year-old nurse in São Paulo, became the first person to be inoculated with CoronaVac.
Her vaccination was organised by the São Paulo state government, which is led by Mr Bolsonaro’s main political rival, João Doria.
This has been part of the unusual good news today for Brazilians facing the second devastating wave.
The pandemic has become deeply political in nature in Brazil. President Bolsonaro continues to present himself as a person who does not trust the vaccine and was not particularly present as the terms were approved. Instead, Monday’s newspapers will no doubt have São Paulo Governor Doria slapped on their front pages.
He is expected to run in next year’s presidential election and supported the Sinovac vaccine right from the start. He was once a Bolsonaro ally and is now his nemesis – but there is no doubt who is leading the way in trying to get the population vaccinated.
