‘Investigation of Chinese vaccine in Brazil stopped for suicide’ | Abroad

Brazilian broadcaster TV Cultura and Globo report the news. TV Cultura says to have seen the coroner’s report, which showed that the volunteer on the trial had ended his life.

The authorities have now also held a press conference. There it is reported that military police had found the victim in a bathroom next to syringes and strips of medicine.

The Brazilian health authority suspended trials of the China-developed Covid-19 vaccine after a “ serious incident ” involving a volunteer, according to CNN Brasil.

The incident happened last month. According to a police report recorded at 4:02 p.m. on Oct. 29, Globo said, officers were called for a post-mortem examination. Once they arrived at the apartment, they were received by the concierge. It showed the man in a lifeless state on the bathroom floor.

‘Researchers angry’

Chinese drug company Sinovac Biotech began phase 3 trials of its CoronaVac in late July in partnership with Brazil’s Butantan Institute in Sao Paulo, with the aim of recruiting 130,000 volunteers. Phase 3 studies are the final and most important stages of testing before seeking regulatory approval.

The researchers are angry. Butantan director Dimas Covas says a report was sent to health institute Anvisa as early as November 6. “An incident happened and it has nothing to do with the vaccine,” it said. “Yesterday on the 9th at 8:40 PM they sent an email to Butantan stating that there would be a meeting today, while announcing the suspension of the investigation. Twenty minutes later it was on national television! ”, Said Dimas Covas. According to him, the discontinuation was unnecessary and led to insecurity among subjects, which could be avoided.

‘Too little info’

Health agency Anvisa defended itself on Tuesday, announcing that it had not heard anything about the cause of death on Monday, only death. Hence, the investigation was halted.

A political component may also play a role because the governor is fully committed to Chinese medicine, but President Jair Bolsonaro does not want it.

The pause in testing is a potential setback for one of China’s leading vaccine candidates. It comes as the American drug company Pfizer said on Monday that initial data from its own coronavirus vaccine showed more than 90 percent effectiveness.

–