Coronavirus: a Chinese vaccine tested in São Paulo, Brazil

Taking a temperature before entering large stores, the malls, which reopened in São Paulo, Brazil, on June 11, 2020, despite the alarming figures of Covid-19 contamination. REUTERS / Amanda Perobelli

Text by: RFI Follow

The State of São Paulo in Brazil has partnered with the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech to test a vaccine against the coronavirus in human beings. This is phase 3 of the clinical trials, which will begin in Brazil next month.

Publicity

Read more

Nine thousand Brazilian volunteers will test a vaccine against the coronavirus developed by Sinovac Biotech, a Chinese company whose vaccine, called Coronavac, has already passed the two initial phases of clinical trials. There remains the decisive phase, to prove its effectiveness on human beings, so that the vaccine can be marketed, reports our correspondent in São Paulo, Martin Bernard .

The governor of the State of São Paulo, João Doria, signed an agreement with this Chinese company. São Paulo is the richest state but also the most affected by the coronavirus in Brazil. He will invest some 15 million euros in this operation.

Compartilho detalhes da apresentação de hoje sobre a vacina contra o coronavírus que o Instituto Butantan produzirá em parceria com o laboratório Sinovac Biotech. A vacina se mostrou muito promissora nos vários testes já realizados anteriormente. pic.twitter.com/IgDMRMkn7v

  João Doria (@jdoriajr) June 11, 2020

After several weeks of violent controversy in Brazil with President Bolsonaro , who downplayed the severity of the pandemic, João Doria is now playing the consensus card. “  The politicization of the virus has not saved lives. Neither in Brazil nor elsewhere. This did not solve any problem. On the contrary, it made them worse, and made more victims. We want solutions, that's what we are looking for,  ”he said.

► Also read : Supporters and opponents of Jair Bolsonaro face to face in São Paulo

If successful, according to João Doria, the Chinese vaccine could be produced in the second half of next year, including in Brazil. The country crossed yesterday the threshold of 40,000 coronavirus deaths and 800,000 confirmed cases of contamination, according to the Ministry of Health. Despite the strong progression of the disease, shopping centers have reopened in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

► Read also : In Brazil, the Supreme Court demands the publication of Covid-19 statistics 

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Coronavirus
  • Brazil
  • China

On the same subject

Interview

The “root peoples” facing the world and the coronavirus