Over 12 million Sinovac Vaccine Shots were suspended in Brazil

Anvisa – Brazil’s federal health regulator, suspended the use of over 12 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd on Saturday. They suspended it for a reason that they were produced in an unauthorized plant.
Sao Paulo's Butantan institute alerted the Anvisa on Friday that the 12.1 million doses sent to Brazil had been made in the plant.

The regulator said that "The manufacturing unit ... was not inspected and was not approved by Anvisa in the authorization of emergency use of the mentioned vaccine." According to them, this ban was "a precautionary measure to avoid exposing the population to possible impending risk.

Butantan also mentioned Anvisa that another 17 batches, totaling 9 million doses, had been produced in the same plant, and were on its way to Brazil, the regulator said.

During this 90-day ban, Anvisa will inspect the plant, and find out more about the security and safety of the manufacturing process, it said.

Brazil on Saturday reported 21,800 new coronavirus cases, and 690 COVID-19 deaths.