Staff members prepare silicone tubes at the COVID-19 vaccine workshop of Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 6, 2021.

Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech said on Sunday that a recent statement released by a Brazilian consulting company in Sinovac's name, which condemns the US for protecting only Americans in its vaccination plan, is fabricated and was not released by the Chinese firm.

The company has never written, authorized others to write, or published the fabricated statement, Sinovac said in a new statement released on Sunday.

Facing the global threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, all organizations and companies are partners and not rivals, and the company is against any malicious attacks and slander, Sinovac said, noting it reserves the right to take legal action against the makers and publishers of the fake statement.

Sinovac's real statement came after several Brazilian media reported on the fabricated statement on Saturday, citing Pharos, a Brazilian consultation company.

Brazilian media claimed the Chinese company criticized the US for enacting vaccine policies that prioritized the US so only its citizens were protected, while also questioning the safety of Pfizer's vaccine.

Global Times