The Latest: Brazil 2nd in global deaths; no vaccines yet
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil hasn’t approved a vaccine yet, and independent health experts who participated in its immunization program say the plan is still incomplete.
Members of the expert committee and former health officials interviewed by The Associated Press condemned the government’s unjustifiable delay in formulating a vaccination effort, in seeking syringe suppliers and months spent rejecting all but one possible vaccine manufacturer.
They also say President Jair Bolsonaro undermined the ministry’s effectiveness, pointing to the removal of highly trained professionals from leadership positions, replaced by military appointees with little or no public health care experience.
Bolsonaro, who said he had the coronavirus last year, has downplayed the need for face masks or restrictions to limit the spread of the virus.
Brazil is second in the world with more than 208,000 confirmed deaths, behind the U.S. with 392,000 deaths. It ranks third globally with 8.9 million confirmed cases in a nation of 211 million people.
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THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
California opens mass vaccine sites but concerned about supply of doses. Spain confident of vaccine program despite delay and record 49,197 daily coronavirus cases. India starts world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination drive, President-elect Joe Biden: We’ll ‘manage the hell’ out of COVID response. A study indicates in pandemic era, older adults isolated but resilient. China builds hospital in 5 days after surge in virus cases.
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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic,...