Brazil’s Foreign and Health Ministries issued a joint statement yesterday, announcing that they will be monitoring the dialogue now underway between Brazil’s health regulatory body, Anvisa, and the Russian producers of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, on steps needed for approval to use Sputnik V in Brazil. The Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology had threatened to file suit against Anvisa, not for its decision rejecting Sputnik V’s use in Brazil, but for the false and defamatory grounds on which it did so: that the vaccine introduced an adenovirus which was capable of replicating in recipients of the vaccine. Questioned, Anvisa later clarified that it had not done any testing which led it to make that charge.
“Keeping in mind the excellent relations between Brazil and the Russian Federation, including in the context of confronting COVID-19, we welcome the willingness of Anvisa and the RDIF and the Gamaleya Center … to seek to clarify remaining doubts over the vaccine, including the provision of additional documentation requested.... We will continue to be ready to help the dialogue underway,” the Ministries wrote, while “always respecting Anvisa’s autonomy so that Sputnik V, when its use in Brazil be approved, comes to reinforce the national vaccination program against COVID-19.”
The Brazilian Health Ministry had itself approved the use of Sputnik V, shortly before Anvisa’s rejection, which was suspected of being the result of geopolitical rather than scientific criteria. Anvisa has demanded further documentation, which the Russian side is now providing.
