Why Are COVID-19 Vaccine Developers Focusing on Brazil?

Brazil Reports Second Highest Number of COVID-19 Cases Worldwide
Possesses Vaccine Production Capacity, Public Healthcare Facilities, and Infectious Disease Research Capabilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Brazil is gaining global attention as a development site for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine. Vaccine developers with high chances of success worldwide are conducting vaccine clinical trials in Brazil. Why are global vaccine manufacturers focusing on Brazil?

Brazil has the second highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. According to the international statistics site Worldometer (as of 9 a.m. Korean time on the 17th), Brazil's cumulative confirmed cases stand at 3,340,197, making it the second most affected country in the world after the United States (5,565,172 cases). The death toll is also the second highest at 107,852.

According to The New York Times (NYT), Brazil has several advantages as a promising site for COVID-19 vaccine development. COVID-19 has spread widely with a steady number of confirmed cases, but Brazil has sufficient medical infrastructure including infectious disease experts and medical equipment, and can secure volunteers for vaccine development.

President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil (right)
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

In fact, Brazil's COVID-19 spread is largely due to human factors. NYT notes that Brazil has a universal public healthcare system and considerable expertise in infectious diseases due to periodic outbreaks of diseases such as yellow fever and measles. Despite these favorable conditions, the worst COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil is largely attributed to a series of government responses. President Jair Bolsonaro described COVID-19 as a "mild flu" and sparked controversy by advocating the use of malaria drugs chloroquine and similar drug hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment without scientific evidence. Although the Minister of Health and others advocated for active social distancing, there were multiple changes in ministers instead of consistent policies.

Fortunately, as vaccine manufacturers conduct phase 3 clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines in Brazil, opportunities have arisen for the country. Brazilian citizens will be among the first to receive vaccines, and Brazil will also be able to produce and export vaccines to neighboring countries.

Phase 3 clinical trials divide participants into groups receiving the real vaccine and a placebo to test the vaccine's actual effectiveness. Those who receive the real vaccine should not get infected, while those who receive the placebo are expected to become infected. To determine if the vaccine is truly effective, trials must be conducted in areas where COVID-19 is sufficiently widespread. For this reason, Brazil, where the spread of COVID-19 has not slowed, is an optimal testing ground.

China's Sinovac began phase 3 clinical trials on 9,000 people in Brazil starting last month on the 21st. The multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca also started phase 3 clinical trials on 5,000 people.

According to current contracts Brazil has signed, the country plans to produce the entire vaccine process, going beyond just importing vaccine raw materials and performing the final production stage. In this regard, Brazil has signed vaccine supply contracts with Sinovac and AstraZeneca through early next year. These contracts include technology transfer clauses, enabling Brazil to produce vaccines independently.

Additionally, Brazil's vaccine production capacity is noteworthy. While Brazil's population is 210 million, its vaccine manufacturing capacity is about 500 million doses annually. The Brazilian government expects to first vaccinate its own citizens and then export the remaining vaccines to South America and other regions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.