Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency has approved the emergency use of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech.

The approval comes as the country seeks to bolster its efforts to stop the spread of the virus.

Brazilian nurse Monica Calazans, 54, became the first Brazilian to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus on Sunday. She received a dose of the CoronaVac vaccine developed by Sinovac in a ceremony chaired by Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria.

"Thank you very much. I am excited," said Calazans with tears in her eyes after receiving the vaccine.

The Brazilian nurse works at the Emilio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases in Sao Paulo.

Brazil's 8,455,059 COVID-19 infections are the third highest globally, only surpassed by tallies registered by the U.S. and India.

Its 209,296 virus-related fatalities are the second-highest after the U.S.'s 396,549, according to Johns Hopkins University.

(With input from Xinhua)