Posters with false information about vaccines for children against Covid were pasted on posts near at least two health units in Araçatuba, in the interior of São Paulo. The messages call the immunizers “poison”.
A woman was recorded in the early hours of Wednesday (9) by the cameras of a commercial establishment pasting the papers and getting into a car. The material erroneously states that vaccines are still in an experimental phase, do not immunize and can cause various diseases. These anti-vaccine arguments are repudiated by experts.
A police report was made, and the São Paulo Youth and Childhood Prosecutor informed that the case has already been reported to the city hall — those responsible, if identified, could face public civil action for collective damages to children and youth.
The posters were posted in the Jardim TV and Morada dos Nobres neighborhoods and were removed by a resident. This Thursday morning (11), the same information had already been posted again on Jardim TV.
The Araçatuba Health Department says that the posters were the first action of their kind in the city and that it “does not support acts contrary to vaccine and science.”
The folder reinforces that the safety and effectiveness of immunizers is proven and that parents and guardians should take their children to take the vaccine against the coronavirus.
According to data from the São Paulo government vaccinometer this Thursday afternoon, 54.53% of children between 5 and 11 years old in the state have already taken their first dose.
For Ana Marisa Chudzinski-Tavassi, director of innovation at Instituto Butantan and CENTD (Center of Excellence for Discovery of Molecular Targets), parents and guardians “have the responsibility to vaccinate [as crianças] because it’s the smartest way to protect people from infectious diseases”.
“Not long ago we saw 4,000 people dying a day in Brazil [de Covid-19] and that’s over. We still have [mortes], but mainly of unvaccinated people. The reflection of vaccination is obvious, the result is gigantic”, says the director.
She recalls that the immunizers passed through the sieve of national and international regulatory agencies to be approved and, therefore, they are safe.
Doctor Marcelo Otsuka, vice president of the infectology department at the São Paulo Society of Pediatrics, reinforces that vaccines against Covid-19 have long since passed the testing phase.
He points out that, even before the release by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency), there were already data from other countries demonstrating the safety of infant doses.
Renato Kfouri, physician and president of the Scientific Department of Immunizations of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, called the information spread by anti-vaccine groups in cases such as the one in Araçatuba “absurd”.
“I thought that here in Brazil we would not see these anti-vaccine groups prosper so soon, but in the support of the Ministry of Health and the president himself, we have a growth among these followers”, says Kfouri.
For him, by saying that he does not get vaccinated and that his 11-year-old daughter Laura is not going to get vaccinated, President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) reinforces the anti-science discourse.
“It is a huge disservice to the population to advertise this type. Covid in pediatrics is not negligible, it has already victimized children and adolescents, there are tens of thousands of hospitalizations. There is no reason why you can’t vaccinate your children and give them the right to protection against a potentially serious disease”, says Kfouri.
“Whoever is afraid of the vaccine, should be afraid of the disease”, he adds.
Chad-98Weaver, a distinguished author at NewsBulletin247, excels in the craft of article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a penchant for storytelling, Chad delivers informative and engaging content that resonates with readers across various subjects. His contributions are a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field of journalism.
