Brazil’s Butantan Institute has begun vaccinating primary healthcare professionals against dengue, marking the rollout of the first vaccine developed entirely with Brazilian technology and the first globally designed for single-dose administration.
The launch ceremony was attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, and other federal and regional officials.
The Ministry of Health confirmed the purchase of 3.9 million doses of the vaccine, which will be administered to individuals aged 12 to 59.
According to the institute’s management, production capacity is expected to reach up to 25 million doses by the end of the year through strategic partnerships, boosting Brazil’s preparedness for epidemiological challenges.
During the event, the federal government announced funding of more than 267 million dollars to expand and modernise Butantan’s industrial complex under the New Growth Acceleration Programme – Health (PAC).
The investment will support upgrades to serum production facilities, development of messenger RNA (mRNA) platforms, and construction of new plants to manufacture vaccine inputs for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and HPV.
Health Minister Alexandre Padilha described the development as a historic milestone that would position Butantan among the world’s leading innovation and industrial technology centres.
He noted that each advancement at the institute is aimed at protecting lives and strengthening scientific progress.
Butantan is also preparing to expand into the production of oncology medicines to help reduce treatment costs within the public health system.
According to reports by Brasil de Fato, the institute achieved the capacity in 2024 to meet Brazil’s full domestic vaccine demand, with further expansion expected to enable the country to support immunisation efforts in other nations.