Brazilian President Zaich Bolsonaro today criticized health regulator Anvisa for authorizing the Pfizer vaccine against covid-19 in children aged 5 to 11, a day after the Federal Ministry of Health announced immunization plans. of this age group.
Bolsonaru, who boasts that he has not been vaccinated and often questions the effectiveness and safety of vaccines against covid-19, said in an interview with a radio station that he had not heard of children dying from the disease, but reiterated that he would not be vaccinated. the daughter of Laura, aged 11 years.
The Brazilian president noted that the vaccines may cause side effects in children, but did not provide evidence to support his view.
Anvisa and other health regulators around the world have announced that covid-19 vaccines are safe for children 5 years of age and older.
“Will you vaccinate your children when the chances of them dying are almost nil?” What is hidden behind this? “What are the interests of vaccinated maniacs?” Bolsonaru asked.
The Brazilian Federal Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday that it has purchased 20 million pediatric vaccines from Pfizer and that voluntary vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 will begin at the end of the month.
In a live broadcast on social media sites on Thursday, Bolsonaru stressed that vaccination against covid-19 is not mandatory. “No mayor or governor can stop a child from going to school because he has not been vaccinated,” he said.
He also warned that Pfizer was not responsible for any side effects that the vaccines might cause in children, and said parents should seek medical attention immediately if their children develop chest pain or shortness of breath.
The Brazilian Pediatricians Association rejected Bolsonaro’s allegations and said in a statement that Brazilians should be afraid of the coronavirus and not vaccines, which save lives at any age.
ANVISA approved on December 16 the issuance of an emergency license for the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for children aged 5-11. The announcement followed the uproar and war that broke out in the largest Latin American country, with the government being accused of delaying the decision.
Bolsonaru had asked for the children to be vaccinated by presenting a prescription, but the Ministry of Health rejected the idea as it was not considered a practice. Health officials explained that the requirement of a prescription would discourage vaccination at a time when the most contagious variant of the coronavirus Omicron is spreading in Brazil.
According to the National Council of Health Ministers of the Brazilian states, at least 300 children aged 5 to 11 had died in the country due to covid-19 by early December.
The Brazilian armed forces also distanced themselves from Bolsonaro this week, urging their members to be vaccinated, wear masks and keep their distance, and warned against spreading false news about the pandemic.
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