Researchers who advised the Ministry of Health assure that they were not consulted before sending a vaccination plan to the STF | Politics

In the note signed by scientists listed as collaborators of the plan, the researchers say that the material was not previously submitted and did not obtain the consent of the group members (read the details of the plan below and see the full scientists note at the end of this article).

The note is signed by 36 researchers. The plan sent to the Supreme Court contains the names of about 150 scientists.

“The technical advisory group was surprised on December 12, 2020 by the press vehicles that announced the sending of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan by the Ministry of Health to the STF. We were surprised and surprised that the document in which the names of the researchers from this technical group were not previously presented to us and they did not obtain our consent, ”says an extract from the note released by the group of researchers.

OR G1 He sought out the Ministry of Health, but did not receive a return until the latest update of this report.

The scientists report that they had requested a meeting on the plan and expressed concern about the withdrawal of the “priority group” planning and “the non-inclusion of all available vaccines that are shown to be safe and effective.”

The group of researchers who advised the Ministry of Health reiterates the technical recommendation that all vulnerable populations, including prisoners, be included in the priority of vaccination.

They also call for the expansion of priority groups to cover all workers in education and essential areas.

The group also requests that the government open negotiations for the acquisition of other vaccines that meet the requirements of efficacy, safety and quality.

One of the collaborators mentioned in the document, epidemiologist Ethel Maciel used a social network to say that she did not see the document before it was sent to the STF. “Something that in my 25 years as a researcher I had never experienced,” said the professor at the Federal University of Espírito Santo.

The “National Plan for the Operationalization of Vaccination against Covid-19”, signed by the Ministry of Health, is dated December 10. The document was attached last Friday (11) to the lawsuits – presented by the parties – that are being processed by the STF and that require vaccination planning for the population.

The material provides for the availability of 108.3 million doses for more than 51 million people in priority groups, divided into four phases.

The document, however, does not present a date for the start of vaccination of members of these groups, which include health professionals and the elderly, among others (see steps below).

A technical note, which accompanies the plan sent to the Supreme Court, says that the forecast is to vaccinate these priority groups throughout the first half of 2021.

The plan defines priority groups for vaccination. This step is divided into four phases. Adding the four phases of the priority groups, the plan foresees 108.3 million doses.

The Ministry of Health considers in the plan that the groups are “preliminary” and are subject to changes based on the indications of the vaccine after the approval of Anvisa, as well as possible contraindications.

• Health workers: 5,886,718 people
• People over 80: 4,266,553
• People from 75 to 79 years old: 3,480,532
• Institutionalized persons aged 60 or over: 198,249
• Indigenous: 410,348
• Estimated number of doses (two doses per person) + 5% loss: 29,909,040

• People aged 70 to 74: 5,174,382
• People aged 65 to 69: 7,081,676
• People aged 60 to 64: 9,091,902
• Estimated number of doses (two doses per person) + 5% loss: 44,830,716

• People with comorbidities: 12,661,921
• Estimated number of doses (two doses per person) + 5% loss: 26,590,034

• Teachers, basic to higher level: 2,344,373
• Security and rescue forces: 850,496
• Prison system officials: 144,451
• Estimated number of doses (two doses per person) + 5% loss: 7,012,572

According to the plan sent to the STF, Brazil “guaranteed” 300 million doses of vaccines through three agreements:

• Fiocruz / Astrazeneca: 100.4 million doses until July and another 30 million in the second semester;
• Covax facility: 42.5 million doses
• Pfizer: 70 million doses (still under negotiation)

However, the reported data results in 242.9 million doses.

The figures include negotiations to purchase the Pfizer vaccine, which is already used in the UK and has been approved for emergency use by the US drug regulatory agency, the FDA.

The technical note that accompanies the plan presents other information. According to the note, Brazil currently has agreements for the acquisition of 142.9 million doses:

• Fiocruz / AstraZeneca: 100.4 million
• Covax installation: 42.5 million

In addition, according to the note, the production capacity, through a bilateral technology transfer agreement with AstraZeneca / Oxford, through Fiocruz, will be 160 million doses, planned for the second half of 2021.

“Adding 142 million + 160 million, Brazil will be able to offer 300 million doses in the public health network, in addition to others that may be approved in the future by Anvisa,” says the note.

Covax Facility is a global program coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to drive development and ensure the purchase of vaccines against Covid-19. The coalition involves more than 150 countries.

According to the plan, stopping the circulation of the virus in Brazil depends on a “highly effective” vaccine taken by more than 70% of the population. According to the government, although vaccines are not widely available in the world, it is necessary to define priority groups to “contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality” from Covid-19.

In the plan, the Ministry of Health says that the government will grant extraordinary credit, that is, money for “the acquisition of each and every one of the vaccines that acquire registration urgently or regularly that presents efficiency and safety for the Brazilian population.” .

Elsewhere, the material deals with “candidate vaccines” that are in the third and final stage of testing and that can be purchased by the ministry. The list includes 13 vaccines, including CoronaVac, developed in Brazil in partnership by the Butantan Institute with the Chinese company Sinovac. CoronaVac has been the subject of a political fight between São Paulo Governor João Doria (PSDB) and President Jair Bolsonaro.

Full of scientific notes

See the full note from the group of scientists:

Public note from the Technical Group of the “Epidemiological Axis of the Covid-19 Vaccination Operational Plan”

The technical advisory group was surprised on December 12, 2020 by the press vehicles that announced the sending of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan by the Ministry of Health to the STF. We were surprised and surprised that the document containing the names of the researchers of this technical group has not been previously presented to us and has not obtained our consent. It is important to note that the technical group requested a meeting and expressed its concern about the withdrawal of priority groups and the non-inclusion of all available vaccines that prove to be safe and effective.

We reiterate our technical recommendation so that all vulnerable populations are included in the vaccination priority, such as indigenous people, quilombolas, riverside populations, deprived of liberty and people with disabilities. Besides these, also the other populations and population groups already included and presented in the initial government plan. Another important point to consider is the expansion of the scope for all education workers and also the inclusion, in the vaccination groups, of essential workers.

Once again, we have come to request the efforts of the Brazilian government by the Ministry of Health to immediately begin negotiations for the acquisition of other vaccines that meet the efficacy, safety, and quality requirements, even with laboratories that meet the production conditions. and Vaccine Dosage Offer and other companies also offer safe and effective vaccines. Therefore, it is necessary to consider that a delay in the vaccination campaign means loss of life and at that moment we need to use science to make decisions that guide what matters most, the preservation of the lives of thousands of Brazilians. This is the most important task of our time and every effort must be made to make it timely, safe and effective.

Participants of the Technical Group of the “Epidemiological Axis of the Vaccination Operational Plan against COVID-19”