SP asks for import of inputs to produce 10 million vaccines for children

The government of São Paulo asked the Butantan Institute to import 8,000 liters of API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) for the production of 10 million doses of the Coronavac vaccine, against Covid-19, for children aged 3 and 4 years. The request was made this Wednesday (20), a week after Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) approve the emergency use of the immunizer for this age group.

“We took this decision today, even before inclusion in the PNI (National Immunization Program), so that we have enough vaccine to vaccinate children in São Paulo and make them available to the Ministry of Health to vaccinate children in Brazil” , said in a note, Governor Rodrigo Garcia (PSDB).

According to the governor, a pre-candidate for reelection to Palácio dos Bandeirantes, imports from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac should take a few weeks and, “if possible”, vaccination will begin in August. The vaccination schedule approved by Anvisa for children follows the protocol used for the general population: same dosage and 28-day interval between two applications.

In a note, Butantan informed that the measure aims to make the vaccine available to the Ministry of Health as soon as possible and that sufficient amounts of API will be imported for doses “that will serve to meet the complete primary vaccination schedule of the entire Brazilian population from 3 to 5 years”.

According to the institute’s advice, the order for at least 6,000 liters of input has already been made, but it is not possible to specify at this moment the time for delivery. In an interview with Sheet last week, the secretary of state for Health of São Paulo, Jean Gorinchteyn, said that from the order, the estimate was 45 days for the arrival of the IFA in Brazil.

Butantan also stated that it awaits the decision of the Ministry of Health to incorporate Coronavac into the PNI so that the vaccine can be distributed nationwide.

On the 15th, when the Ministry of Health recommended the vaccination of children aged 3 to 5 years with Coronavac, the ministry advised states and municipalities to use the doses in stock and stated that it was negotiating the purchase of more units.

This Tuesday (19), the federal government said that it plans to relocate the doses of Coronavac between states to guarantee the supply of units of the federation that complain about the lack of immunizations.

A new purchase of the immunizer via the Butantan Institute is being studied. “Butantan is an option, the Covax Facility consortium is another option. We are evaluating how we can bring vaccines faster, so that they reach the end, without burdening the ministry’s budget so much”, said the secretary. -executive of the Ministry of Health, Daniel Pereira.

This Wednesday, the city of São Paulo started vaccinating children aged 3 and 4 years, but only the public with comorbidity or disabilities and indigenous people. According to the management of Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB), vaccination will not start for the general public of these ages because the city does not have enough stock of doses.