DISINFO: Brazil's rejection of Sputnik V is politically motivated
SUMMARY
The rejection of the Sputnik V vaccine by Brazil was politically motivated and the decision made by the National Health Agency (Anvisa) is not based on any scientific data.
RESPONSE
The article is part of a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign regarding other COVID-19 vaccines and a strong promotion of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. This was launched after the Sputnik V announcement was met with scepticism and criticism.
At the end of April 2021, the Brazilian health authorities blocked the import of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, citing a lack of reliable data on its safety and efficacy, raising questions over a shot that is in use around the world to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a unanimous decision, the five directors of Anvisa, Brazil’s health agency, voted not to recommend imports of the vaccine after its researchers reported flaws in product development in all stages of the vaccine’s clinical studies.
Brazil is concerned the vaccine could contain active adenovirus particles, responsible for the common cold, which could make recipients sick. Brazil's health authorities also had doubts about the methodology used in Sputnik V’s clinical trials and whether the batch of doses that Brazil would receive would be identical to the shots tested in those trials.
The Russian Gamaleya Institute has reacted strongly to Brazil's stance but there is strong scientific evidence to back Anvisa's decision. Recently, pro-Kremlin media attacked a similar decision by Slovakia's health authorities to question Sputnik V's efficacy.
Other disinformation reports following the same context claiming that the UK launched a smear campaign against it; that the US and the EU face multiple deaths out of fear to admit Russia’s success against coronavirus; that the WHO and Microsoft sabotaged the Russian vaccine; that Europe is turning to Russia due to its desperate need for a vaccine; or that the West criticises the Sputnik V because it can’t accept Russia’s primacy.