BRASÍLIA – Brazil yesterday granted full regulatory approval to the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, voicing confidence in it even as a raft of countries suspended its use.
Federal health regulator Anvisa said it sees “no health risk for the population associated with the use of this vaccine”, and upgraded it from emergency to full regulatory approval.
“The benefits outweigh the risks.”
The decision comes despite the fact that nations including Denmark, Norway, Bulgaria and Thailand have suspended use of the vaccine as a precaution after reports of recipients developing blood clots.
The European Medicines Agency yesterday said severe allergies should be added to the vaccine’s warning on side effects.
But, the World Health Organisation (WHO) insisted there is no reason to stop using the jab, describing it as an “excellent vaccine”.
AstraZeneca said there is no evidence of higher blood clot risks.
Anvisa also approved antiviral medication remdesivir for use against Covid-19, despite WHO finding it has “little or no effect” on mortality from the disease.
Hard-hit Brazil, which has struggled to source enough vaccines for its 212 million people, also announced the purchase of 10 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V.
However, the jab still needs regulatory approval in the South American country, which is so far using only the Oxford vaccine and that developed by China’s CoronaVac.
Both are two-dose vaccines.
Around 9.3 million people have received their first vaccine dose in Brazil, and around 3.3 million people their second.
Covid-19 has claimed 273,000 lives in the country, according to Health Ministry figures, the second-highest death toll worldwide after the United States. – AFP, March 13, 2021
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