Brazil’s 'Trump' has Turned to Putin to Negotiate with Russia on the Production of New Coronavirus Vaccine

Reuters reported on August 10 that after Putin announced that Russia had become the world's first country to approve the new crown vaccine, within a few hours, the Brazilian state of Paraná stated that it was negotiating with Russia to produce the new crown vaccine.

The spokesperson of the Parana Institute of Technology, Joao Pedro Shonat, told Reuters that negotiations are ongoing. The state government stated that the governor will meet with the Russian ambassador to Brazil on Wednesday, but the spokesperson did not specify whether the production agreement will be signed at the meeting.

Brazil is the world's largest coronavirus outbreak center outside the United States, so Brazil has become the center of large-scale clinical trials of potential vaccines, and candidate vaccines from the United Kingdom are already being tested. Brazilian officials also vowed to start manufacturing British vaccines within a year, but experts warn that this may take at least twice as long. The Russian vaccine has not yet completed its final test, causing experts to worry about the speed of its approval, but the Russian business group Sistema said it is expected to enter mass production before the end of the year.

Moscow praised its breakthrough after less than two months of human testing, which is a testament to Russia's scientific strength. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund, said that the vaccine will be sold in foreign markets under the name of Sputnik V, and some products will be produced in Brazil.

Any production arrangement requires the approval of Anvisa, the Brazilian health regulatory agency. The agency and the Brazilian Ministry of Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Brazil has confirmed more than 3 million new coronavirus cases, and the official death toll has recently exceeded 100,000. President Jail Bolsonaro urged the reopening of the economy, even if the epidemic has not been contained. Cuban news agency Prensa Latina reported that Russia "may" also arrange for the production of its new crown vaccine in Cuba.

Reuters reported on August 10 that after Putin announced that Russia had become the world's first country to approve the new crown vaccine, within a few hours, the Brazilian state of Paraná stated that it was negotiating with Russia to produce the new crown vaccine.

The spokesperson of the Parana Institute of Technology, Joao Pedro Shonat, told Reuters that negotiations are ongoing. The state government stated that the governor will meet with the Russian ambassador to Brazil on Wednesday, but the spokesperson did not specify whether the production agreement will be signed at the meeting.