BRASILIA, Reuters -Pfizer Inc. will test the vaccine’s effectiveness against COVID-19 in a population of southern Brazil over 12 years old. The company announced Wednesday.

It will be done in Toledo, population 14,000, west of Parana. The study is co-ordinated with Brazil’s National Vaccination Program, health authorities and a federal University.

Pfizer (NYSE) stated that the goal was to investigate transmission of coronaviruses in a real-life situation after vaccinations have been given.

Pfizer stated that the initiative was the only one of its kind and the first to be done in partnership with a pharmaceutical company in a country in need.

Similar studies were conducted in Brazil by the Butantan Institute (one of Brazil’s top biomedical research facilities) in Serrana, a smaller city in Sao Paulo, to assess the CoronaVac shot, which was developed in China by Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

Butantan claimed that mass vaccination has reduced COVID-19 deaths by 95% since May in the city of 45,644 residents. It is currently considering expanding the research to include a third dose.

At a press conference to announce the Pfizer study, Toledo Mayor Beto Lunitti stated that “Here is science we believe and we mourn the nearly 600,000.00 deaths caused by COVID-19”

Regis (NYSE) Goulart is a research scientist at Toledo’s Moinhos de Vento Hospital. He stated that the company was trying to verify the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in real life.

Goulart stated that the observational study would also provide an opportunity for long-term monitoring of up to one calendar year to monitor participants, and answer any lingering questions like how vaccine protection against COVID-19 or new variants lasts.