President Bolsonaro announced there will be no “health passport” in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday (2) reaffirmed that his government does not plan to implement the so-called “health passport” in the country, since “freedom is above all else” and each citizen should decide whether or not to be vaccinated.

The adoption of the “health passport” has been requested in recent days by several scientific sectors, after the first cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 were detected in Brazil, in people coming from South Africa and Ethiopia.

The first 3 cases were detected in the city of São Paulo, and another 2 were confirmed Thursday in Brasilia, while other infections of passengers who also returned to Brazil from the African continent are being examined.

At an event held at the presidential palace, Bolsonaro said Thursday that society must understand that “the virus will be around forever” and that “vaccines, some still experimental, others not, have many uncertainties before them.”

The President cited the World Health Organization (WHO) and warned that “the fully vaccinated can be infected and transmit the virus and can also die,” to justify his decision not to impose compulsory immunization.

Bolsonaro, who refuses to be vaccinated and since the beginning of the pandemic has refuted its effects, reiterated that “freedom” of individuals is “above all else.”

Nevertheless, he stressed that the government purchased “vaccines for everyone” who wants to take them, and defended their “freedom” regarding the choice.

“Let’s not make the vaccine a war horse for political interests,” the President urged, stressing that no one can “be threatened with losing rights or being fired for not getting vaccinated, because freedom has no price.”

Brazil on Monday closed its air borders to 6 African countries (South Africa, Botswana, Esuatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe).

The country has accumulated over 614,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, the nation with the second-most deaths in absolute terms after the United States.

Over 62% of a total population of 213 million is fully immunized and a third dose is being administered to risk groups and all adults who were vaccinated more than 5 months ago.

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