[ad_1]
The MPF (Federal Public Ministry) announced today that it has called the Ministry of Health and Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) to demand explanations about the planning that mainly involves two candidates for the vaccine against covid-19. CoronaVac and the Oxford vaccine were the subject of letters sent by the MPF to federal agencies.
The São Paulo Department of Health and the Butantan Institute, which develops and tests CoronaVac in association with the Chinese laboratory Sinovac, were also questioned by the MPF.
The procedure initiated is based on the controversy that developed during last week, when the Ministry of Health even announced the purchase of the first 46 million doses of CoronaVac, but was later disavowed by President Jair Bolsonaro (without a party). At the end of the week, Anvisa ended up announcing that it would buy only 6 million doses of the immunizer.
CoronaVac is still undergoing efficacy testing, but it is one of the most promising immunizers in the world.
The Oxford vaccine, which has also proven effective today, also has a positive outlook for approval in studies. Even today, the immunizer developed by the University of Oxford in partnership with the AstraZeneca laboratory had news of a “robust” response among the elderly and younger adults.
Both vaccines had purchase and investment intentions expressed by the federal government. Now, the MPF questions those involved about the criteria that were considered for the decision to choose immunizers.
Why the CoronaVac and Oxford vaccine?
In letters signed by prosecutors from São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Pernambuco, the MPF asks the Ministry of Health to clarify how the agreement announced with Butantan would work in practice and also questions the choice of CoronaVac and the Oxford vaccine to the detriment of others research vaccines in the world.
Anvisa was asked about the scientific bases that led the agency to initially include only the Oxford vaccine in the Health calendar, in reference to the PNI (National Immunization Program). In addition, the agency was also asked about how the vaccine tests are going and if there is an estimate of the time frame for approval of the vaccine registry.
Butantan, in turn, was called in to explain the alleged delay in the approval by Anvisa of the import of raw material for the production of CoronaVac. The case, however, was resolved since the end of last week, when Butantan and Anvisa released a period of five working days to resolve the situation.
Another request for clarification made by the MPF has also been updated since the letter was prepared. The agency questioned the São Paulo Department of Health about the status of the agreement announced with the Ministry of Health, which would buy 46 million doses of CoronaVac.
Following Bolsonaro’s refusal to accept the commitment made by the Minister of Health, Eduardo Pazuello, Anvisa has promised to buy 6 million doses of the immunizer, which should already arrive ready from China.
