Bolsonaro says he is unaware of the death of a child by Covid; more than 300 died in the country

A day after the Ministry of Health announced vaccination for children aged 5 to 11, President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said this Thursday (6) that he did not know a child who had died from Covid-19, repeated side effects of immunization and asked parents not to be carried away by what he called propaganda.

“The very Anvisa that approved it also says there that the child can feel, right after the vaccine, shortness of breath and palpitations. , said the president, in an interview with Rádio Nordeste, from Pernambuco.

At this point, Bolsonaro repeated the question to nearby auxiliaries and said that none of them raised their hands. He also repeated that he will not vaccinate his 11-year-old daughter Laura.

The representative also suggested that Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) and “vaccine perverts” are interested in approving the immunizing agent.

The technicians of the folder have been receiving threats, investigated today by the Federal Police, since they approved the use of Pfizer for children from 5 to 11 years old in December last year. The president has already said that he would disclose the name of these technicians, which, so far, has not happened.

“And you are going to vaccinate your child against something that the young person by himself once catching the virus, the possibility of him dying is almost zero? What is behind it? What is Anvisa’s interest behind it there? of those people obsessed with vaccines? Is it for your life? Is it for your health? If it were, they would be worried about other diseases in Brazil and they are not”, he said.

“So I ask, as they are children, don’t be carried away by the propaganda. Talk to your neighbors. How many kids contracted Covid and nothing happened to him”, he added.

Experts point out that vaccination for children against Covid-19 is effective and safe, and that its benefits outweigh possible risks.

According to data from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance System (SIVEP-Gripe), from the beginning of the pandemic until December 6, 301 deaths of children between 5 and 11 years old by Covid-19 were recorded in the country.

Although the number may be lower compared to other age groups, experts point out that it is essential to immunize children, because they can also transmit the disease to other people, who can develop more severe cases.

Saúde announced the inclusion of children in the immunization program, and without the need to present a medical prescription, as Bolsonaro had suggested.

The ministry, however, responded to another request from Bolsonaro: it carried out a public consultation on its portal to see the opinion of internet users on the subject. The decision to buy vaccines took place only after the consultation, and three weeks after Anvisa had authorized the use of Pfizer for the age group.

The country should receive by March at least 20 million pediatric doses of Pfizer against Covid-19, enough to immunize about half of the population in this age group.

The government still expects 3.7 million doses by the end of January. The units will be distributed proportionally to the states and the Federal District, responsible for the application of the immunizer.

According to the folder, the first flight with Pfizer vaccines is expected to arrive in Brazil on January 13. The batch will have 1.248 million doses. Delivery must take place at Viracopos airport, in Campinas (SP).

Bolsonaro’s interview this Thursday was not the first time he has cast doubt on the effectiveness of vaccination – he himself says he has not been vaccinated.

At the end of the year, the president had already said that there would be no death of a child to justify an emergency.