Brazil: corruption suspicion in vaccine delivery case

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro could be affected by a corruption case involving a large vaccine delivery.

EVARISTO SA AFP / File

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In Brazil, accusations of fraud hang over the management of vaccination by the government of Jair Bolsonaro.

The federal authorities bought the Indian vaccine Covaxin at a price well above the market price.

But this vaccine was ultimately not delivered and suspicions mount to the presidency. 

Publicity

Read more

The case made the headlines of the Brazilian press.

It all started with a testimony before the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the management of the pandemic by the government of Jair Bolsonaro.

An official from the Ministry of Health has revealed irregularities in the purchase of the Indian vaccine Covaxin, a product authorized for import and for conditional use since June 4.

According to this senior official, the Brazilian company which was to import the drug would have offered it at a price eleven times higher than the market value.

According to AFP, the total bill was for a total amount of $ 300 million.

This official claims to have received pressure from his superiors to validate the payment.

According to the local press, the Brazilian company responsible for importing the vaccine has seen its turnover explode thanks to contracts concluded with the government.

Alerted to this affair, President Jair Bolsonaro had promised to seize the federal police, but never did.

These revelations have led

the left-wing opposition

to call for a new day of protests next Saturday against the far-right president.

With always

the same slogan

, namely that Jair Bolsonaro be dismissed.

And with the hope of also rallying part of the center-right to these anti-Bolsonaro actions. 

►Also read: 

Covid-19 in Brazil: Bolsonaro calls for the masks to be dropped despite the 2,000 daily deaths

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Coronavirus

  • Brazil

  • Jair Bolsonaro

On the same subject

Brazil: the vaccine war between Jair Bolsonaro and the State of São Paulo

Covid-19 in Brazil: hundreds of NGOs and companies unite to speed up vaccination

Covid: the race for 100% Brazilian vaccines is on