Bolsonaro says he is surprised by Barra Torres’ ‘aggressive letter’

President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said this Monday (10) that he was taken by surprise with the letter from the director-president of Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency), Antonio Barra Torres, released on Saturday (8). He also said that if he had lived with the admiral, he might not have nominated him for the post.

“I was surprised by his letter, an aggressive letter, there was no reason for that. I said: ‘what is behind what Anvisa has been doing?’ No one accused anyone of being corrupt. For the time being, I have nothing to do about it”, commented the president in an interview with Jovem Pan TV.

Barra Torres countered insinuations regarding Anvisa’s alleged hidden interests in vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 years. The agency cleared the use of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine in children on December 16.

In another part of the interview, when commenting on the indications he made during the government, the president said that if he had lived with the current head of the agency, “maybe he would not have nominated him”.

“I had no knowledge of Barra Torres’ previous life, except as a military officer, a general officer of the Navy, who had nothing against him. mean any discrediting criticism of Admiral Barra Torres”, he said.

Bolsonaro also said that Barra Torres “didn’t need to act that way” and reported that he talked to the president of Anvisa about the need to vaccinate children.

“I believe that the work could be different. He can counter this criticism, he’s the one who decides. I know he’s the one who decides. I nominated him there, after the nomination, he gained his own light. I hope he gets it right. Anvisa, but we had no friction to the point where he said that I had to identify any signs of corruption,” he said.

The president of Anvisa demanded from Bolsonaro the determination of investigation, if he has information in this regard, or retraction.

“If you have information that raises the slightest hint of corruption on this Brazilian, don’t waste time or prevaricate, Mr. President. Determine an immediate police investigation on my person. In fact, on anyone who works today at Anvisa, who with pride I have the privilege of being a member,” wrote the agency’s CEO.

“Now, if you don’t have such information or evidence, exercise the greatness that your position demands and, by the God you cite so much, retract,” added Barra Torres, who has a term of office until 2024 and cannot be fired by the President.

He released the note after meeting with agency directors on Saturday afternoon.

On Thursday (6), Bolsonaro asked parents not to be carried away by what he called propaganda and made insinuations against the regulatory agency.

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

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. The president has already said that he would disclose the name of these technicians, which, so far, has not happened.

Also on Thursday, Bolsonaro also said he did not know a child who had died from Covid-19, which contradicts data from the government itself.

“Anvisa itself, which also approved it, says that the child can feel, right after the vaccine, shortness of breath and palpitations. I ask: are you aware of a child aged 5 to 11 years who has died of Covid? have”, said the president, in an interview with Rádio Nordeste, from Pernambuco.

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.