Prognosis

Brazil Approves Emergency Use of Sinovac, AstraZeneca Shots

Sao Paulo gives out first vaccines minutes after approval
Government says immunizations start nationwide on Wednesday

Joao Doria, left, watches as a healthcare worker receives a dose of the Sinovac Biotech vaccine in Sao Paulo on Jan. 17.Photographer: Patricia Monteiro/Bloomberg

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By Danielle Chaves and Fernando Travaglini

January 17, 2021 at 5:55 PM UTC

Updated on

January 17, 2021 at 10:08 PM UTC

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Brazil granted approval for the emergency use of AstraZeneca Plc and Sinovac Biotech Ltd vaccines against Covid-19, allowing the country to kick-start deploying shots as the virus roars back in Latin America’s largest economy.

Health regulator Anvisa cleared the vaccines in a Sunday meeting, citing the recent significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Brazil and the lack of alternatives for treatment of the disease.