Brazil’s far-right president, Zaich Bolsonaro, announced Monday that he would not vaccinate his 11-year-old daughter against COVID-19, while continuing to reject immunization, which has sparked criticism from public health experts and at least in part, it contributes to the free fall of its popularity.
The head of state added that his government’s health minister, Marcelo Keiroga, will present on January 5 how Brazil will vaccinate children aged 5-11, something that was approved by the competent supervisory body earlier this month.
“Children do not die in a way that justifies a vaccine for children,” he told reporters in the southern state of Santa Catarina.
The issue of vaccinating children is provoking a war in Brazil, where the president’s most ardent supporters are vehemently opposed, although the vast majority of citizens are in favor of vaccinations.
In October, ANVISA, the regulatory body responsible, complained that its executives were receiving threats against their lives because of the issue. When he approved the vaccination of children aged 5-11, Mr. Bolsonaru caused a stir, stating that he wanted to make public the names of its executives who signed this decision.
On December 23, Mr. Keiroga escalated the government’s dispute with the watchdog, saying the number of child deaths due to complications of COVID-19 could not justify granting emergency vaccine authorization for this age group. He went on to say that prescribing a new coronavirus to immunize children against the disease would require a prescription – an idea that was immediately rejected by state health ministers.
“I have talked to Keiroga about it. “On the 5th (January 2022), he will publish a directive on how to vaccinate children,” said the president. “I hope the judges do not interfere. I hope so. “Because my daughter is not going to be vaccinated, let me clarify.”
According to official data from the Brazilian state, in the largest Latin American country, 301 children aged 5-11 have died due to complications of COVID-19 from the outbreak of the new coronavirus pandemic to date.
Zaich Bolsonaru himself has said he has no intention of being vaccinated and has repeatedly questioned the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
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