RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday, January 6, that Brazil’s National Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) “became the owner of the truth. He stated in a live broadcast on social networks.
“Anvisa now became, I will not compare it with another Power in Brazil; it became another Power and is the owner of the truth,” he said during weekly live on social networks.
The president was commenting on the cases of covid on cruise ships operating on the Brazilian coast.
“The vaccine doesn’t guarantee that you won’t contract the virus. Just as it doesn’t guarantee that you won’t die,” he explained. Bolsonaro also said that there are “a lot of unknown people” who die after the second dose.
“[This] vaccine is still a thing that arouses a lot of discussion about its effects. Can anyone tell me the effect of a vaccine on a person who has received antibodies? Some say four months, so it’s a sign that you have to receive it three times.”
(Dr. Robert Malone, inventor of mRNA vaccine technology used in Pfizer and Moderna covid injections)
ANVISA
The president has already criticized Anvisa. At the end of December, he declared live that it was impossible to talk to the president of the agency and that the dialogue was over.
“It is almost impossible to talk to the president of Anvisa. He has his own opinion. Let’s hope for his sake that he gets it right. But when it comes to vaccinating children, that’s something we’re concerned about,” he explained at the time.
The disagreement came after Anvisa approved the use of Pfizer’s vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11. Following Anvisa’s opinion, the Ministry of Health approved the inclusion of this age group in the national Covid-19 vaccination program. It is anticipated that children will begin receiving the pediatric doses of Pfizer’s vaccine on January 17.
CHILD VACCINATION
On Thursday’s broadcast, the president reinforced the possibility of adverse effects with the application of the immunizer in this age group, and said that vaccination will not be mandatory. He also stated that no mayor or governor will be able to prevent the enrollment of children in schools for lack of immunization.
“What we have achieved is that it will be obligatory to tell parents that their child may immediately have certain symptoms such as pain, fever, fatigue, chills,” he said. “It’s very important here, that, the parent or guardian be told to see a doctor.”
“If your child feels chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations, seek medical attention immediately,” he said.
The president again said that he would not vaccinate his daughter, who is 11 years old. “If you want to follow my example, that’s your right,” he said, speaking to mothers and fathers.
Earlier, the president said he is unaware of the occurrence of deaths of children infected by covid-19. Bolsonaro is against the vaccination of children from 5 to 11 years old. He advocates that immunizers be applied only with a doctor’s prescription, but this will not be necessary.