Brazil to begin vaccine rollout
Brazil is expected to begin administering COVID-19 vaccines today.
President Jair Bolsonaro has been heavily criticised for his handling of the pandemic, with more than 200,000 people dying from COVID-19 in the country. Brazil will begin by administering eight million doses of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines to five million people. The government projects to end 2021 with at least 354 million doses between contracts for the two vaccines and those produced locally, enough to fully immunise at least 80% of the population.
Expect internal political clashes to hamper the implementation of the government’s vaccination plan. Bolsonaro has recently battled with Sao Paulo’s governor over the vaccination campaign, which is expected to increase delays in vaccine distribution, putting the recovery under threat. In addition, expect the chaotic surge in infections and hospitalisations in the state of Amazonas to generate further social unrest and a more divisive political spectrum, putting Bolsonaro at risk of impeachment in the medium-term if he under-delivers vaccines countrywide.
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