Impeachment-Threatened Bolsonaro "Purchasing Russian Vaccine"

Bloomberg "Thousands Rally in Northern City Manaus Urging Impeachment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Jair Bolsonaro, the President of Brazil who is facing impeachment risks due to controversies over his inadequate response to COVID-19, has expressed his intention to purchase Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V.

On the 30th (local time), President Bolsonaro stated that if the National Health Surveillance Agency under the Ministry of Health approves its use, he will proceed with the purchase of Sputnik V.

President Bolsonaro said that with a budget of 20 billion reais (approximately 4.1 trillion won) allocated for COVID-19 vaccine procurement, Sputnik V will also be purchased once the National Health Surveillance Agency grants approval.

This decision to purchase the Russian vaccine came amid growing impeachment debates due to the poor handling of COVID-19. Like former U.S. President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro downplayed the severity of COVID-19 by likening it to a type of cold, which sparked controversy. Despite having contracted and recovered from COVID-19, he opposed early vaccine use and even made absurd claims such as "If you get the COVID-19 vaccine, you could turn into a crocodile."

Bloomberg reported that in Manaus, a city in northern Brazil, thousands of protesters took to the streets over the weekend demanding Bolsonaro's impeachment.

Earlier, five opposition parties including the left-wing Workers' Party criticized President Bolsonaro on the 15th for ignoring quarantine guidelines and spreading misinformation that worsened the COVID-19 damage, announcing plans to file an impeachment motion.

Brazilian governors have demanded through the legislature that Sputnik V be approved and purchased, emphasizing the need to secure as many vaccines as possible amid the resurgence of COVID-19.

So far, the National Health Surveillance Agency has only approved two vaccines for emergency use: CoronaVac and the AstraZeneca vaccine from the UK pharmaceutical company.

Previously, Brazil's major pharmaceutical company Uni?o Qu?mica, together with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which is responsible for exporting and overseas production of Sputnik V, requested emergency use approval on the 15th.

There have been reports that the National Health Surveillance Agency rejected the emergency use approval for Sputnik V, citing that it did not meet the minimum criteria required for emergency use approval, such as not undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials.

However, RDIF stated through the Russian Embassy in Brazil that the National Health Surveillance Agency did not reject the emergency use approval for Sputnik V but rather requested additional information.

Sputnik V, which Russia approved first in the world in August last year, was approved after Phase 1 and 2 trials without conducting Phase 3 clinical trials, raising concerns about its efficacy and safety.

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