Covid-19: Evangelicals in Bolivia, citing free will, are against forced vaccination

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Evangelical churches are successfully obstructing Bolivian government plans as Covid-19 vaccination has stopped at less than 50% of the target population.

Religious groups have demanded the government not force the population to be vaccinated, not for religious reasons, but for their right to decide freely.

Meanwhile, the government started on Thursday its door-to-door vaccination campaign in the city of El Alto -neighboring La Paz- where there is a low vaccination rate due to the strong presence of anti-vaccine groups.

“We are against forced vaccination. It should be left to free will,” said Pastor Luis Aruquipa in a public statement to the media on Thursday and quoted a passage from the Psalms: “I will walk in freedom because I have dedicated myself to your commandments.”

Aruquipa, who decided not to be vaccinated, had already made the news before by publicly promoting the use of chlorine dioxide, which the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have advised against due to the lack of scientific evidence.

Evangelical churches have gained ground over the Catholic faith, which continues to be in the majority and openly in favor of vaccination. Pope Francis made a new call the day before in favor of vaccines, seconded by the country’s bishops.

For the government, the problem is no longer the availability of vaccines but the rejection of them. “We are going to allow the people to decide to be vaccinated and not to arrive in intensive care with the disease”, said Minister Jeyson Auza in the inauguration of the house to house vaccination and asked the citizenship to put the shoulder to prevent the fourth wave.

So far, the government is betting on persuasive campaigns, although some private businesses, including several banks, ask to carry the vaccination card.

The mayor of El Alto, Eva Copa, acknowledged that vaccination levels in the city have fallen again and blamed anti-vaccination groups campaigning in the streets and social networks.

The Ministry of Health reported that 42% had been inoculated with the two doses, and 46% received the first dose out of a universe of 7.1 million people over 18 years of age.

According to authorities, the pandemic, which is in decline with less than 500 new cases per day, has infected more than 496,032 people and caused the death of more than 18,000 in the country.