He addressed an extended public hearing, while discussing impasses Governors of the Northeast and the federal government have face in adquiring this vaccine.

Such debate came a day after the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) put off Sputnik V import requests due to alleged lack of documentation certifying efficacy and safety.

In this regard, Padilha said that ANVISA technicians made a decision based solely on information provided to them.

However, he wondered: ‘Why didn’t ANVISA have all information on vaccines? Why didn’t Bolsonaro provide access to this information?’

For Padilha, Brazilian president ‘is accountable for this issue. It is the federal government obligation to facilitate all kinds of international cooperation for population’s access to the vaccine.’

He recalled that since last year Sputnik V was offered to the Brazilian government. ‘And Bolsonaro’s position on this issue was pretty absurd: he set aside any possibility of bilateral communication with Russia.’

What should have been done? An agreement, as we did during the H1N1 pandemic, in which both institutions worked together during all research and application of the vaccines. Bolsonaro simply washed his hands, Padilha condemned.

mh/pll/mem / ocs