Bolsonaro Adamant That Covid-19 Vaccine Will Not Be Compulsory in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro reiterated on Monday, October 19th, that a potential vaccine against Covid-19 will not be obligatory. The Chief Executive mentioned that the Minister of Health himself, Eduardo Pazuello, has stated that immunization will not be compulsory, although it is offered free of charge by the government.

“The law is very clear and the Ministry of Health defines it. My Minister of Health has already said that this vaccine will not be mandatory and that’s final,” said the president to supporters yesterday morning outside the Alvorada Palace.

Last Friday, October 16th, Bolsonaro had already signaled that the government would not force the population to be vaccinated. The statement through social media occurred on the same day that São Paulo Governor João Doria said immunization would be mandatory in the state. “Another thing, there is this governor who is claiming to be the doctor of Brazil saying that it [the vaccine] will be obligatory, and it will not be,” the President said on Monday, with no direct reference to Doria.

“On our part, when it is ready, after being approved by the Ministry of Health and scientifically verified and validated by ANVISA, we will offer it to Brazil free of charge. But I repeat, it will not be mandatory”, he added. The Chief Executive also said that in his opinion a foreign vaccine should first be widely administered in its country of origin and then offered to other nations.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo