President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a R$1.4 billion investment in the Butantan Institute on February 9, 2026, during a visit to the facility, as stated in his official X post at approximately 11:46 PM UTC, within the reporting window from 11:46 PM UTC on February 9 to 1:45 AM UTC on February 10. The funding targets infrastructure, vaccination, and immunobiological inputs to build two new factories and modernize two others. Lula described the investment as ensuring Brazil's sovereignty in producing vaccines and medicines, strengthening science, public health, and the health industry to meet Brazilian needs now and in the future, according to his X post shared with video footage credited to @ricardostuckert_. The Brazilian Government confirmed the R$1.4 billion ($270 million) allocation for expansion and modernization of the renowned scientific research center and vaccine producer, as reported by EFE news agency in an article linked in their X post during this 1-hour-59-minute period. No further details on the announcement timing or implementation timeline were provided in the sources. The Butantan Institute serves as a key center for vaccine production in Brazil.
