[ad_1]
There is still no confirmed date for Brazil to receive doses of the Covax vaccine, the global alliance created by the WHO to ensure the distribution of doses to developing countries.
In a letter to the government, the consortium explained last week that the country would receive 2.99 million doses in March, in addition to another 6.1 million in April and May. All of them would come from AstraZeneca and the column also found that Brazil was on a list of the first nine countries in the Americas to receive the vaccine.
But shipments are still waiting for a definition before they can occur and a date is set. Purchase orders have already been placed and, according to Covax sources, deliveries could be made “in the next few days.” One of the problems would be the difficulty of logistical planning by the company, which is not used to a global vaccination. Other negotiators, however, are more cautious and point out that, at this moment, there is still no way of knowing when the doses would land in the country, also due to bureaucratic processes.
On the Brazilian side, the government guarantees that it has met all the requirements. “The Ministry of Health informs that all the requirements for the acquisition of vaccines against Covid-19 by the Covax Facility consortium have been met,” said the portfolio led by Eduardo Pazzuelo. “It is worth noting that, so far, the portfolio has not been reported due to lack of documentation by WHO / PAHO,” he said.
The first shipment is expected to arrive in Brazil through the Revolving Fund of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and corresponds to the AstraZeneca / Oxford immunizer, manufactured in South Korea. The schedule foresees 2.9 million doses in March and another 6.1 million for May. The Ministry of Health contracted 42.5 million doses through the Covax Facility, ”says the government.
50 countries can be served at the end of the week
In the first 10 days after the distribution mechanism came into effect, 19 countries around the world received around 12 million doses. Over the weekend, ten other countries also received, and according to WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, by the end of the week a total of 50 countries will have received the doses.
Questioned by the column, Covax spokespersons explained that, “for doses to be delivered to participants through this first round of allocation, several critical pieces must be in place.”
This, according to the mechanism, includes “confirmation of national regulatory authorization criteria related to the vaccines delivered, compensation agreements (for all participants with the respective manufacturers), national vaccination plans for participants, as well as other logistical factors, such as export and import licenses. “
“We are in close contact with each of the Covax participating economies regarding vaccine launch. As each economy finalizes preparations, Covax issues purchase orders to manufacturers and delivers doses,” he explained. This means that, as of last week, deliveries for this first round of distribution are being made on a daily, continuous and fractional basis ”, they indicate.
“The first round of allocations has been communicated to relevant governments who are working closely with COVAX partners and vaccine manufacturers on specific delivery dates,” the mechanism added.
Late membership and minimal fee
Although the mechanism was launched in April 2020, the government only ratified the bill confirming Brazil’s adherence to the mechanism last week.
Almost a year ago, when the initiative was announced, the Brazilian government did not even participate in the event in Geneva. At that time, the Ministry of Health explained that it had in mind “other alliances”, without explaining what they were.
Weeks later, the government chose to join the mechanism. But, after months of debate, he pointed out that adherence would occur with a minimum order of doses.
Under the Covax agreement, countries would have to request an immunization volume equivalent to at least 10% of their population. The value could reach 40%. But Brazil chose to buy only 10%, about 42 million doses.
[ad_2]
