Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has confirmed that he will not be vaccinated against Covid-19, having previously stated that he will be “the last Brazilian to do so.” The far-right leader’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and initially downplayed the severity of the virus. Although he himself contracted the virus, it sparked controversy. “I decided not to get vaccinated. I am looking for new research. I already have the highest immunization. Why should I get the vaccine?” the 66-year-old said in an interview with Jovem Pan Radio on Tuesday evening. “This is the same as betting 10 reais on the lottery to win two. It doesn’t make sense.” As a coronavirus skeptic, Bolsonaro had previously claimed that the Pfizer vaccine may turn people into crocodiles due to secondary effects. Since he was infected with Covid-19 in July 2020, Bolsonaro has repeatedly claimed that tests have shown that he has a large number of antibodies to fight the virus and therefore does not need to be vaccinated. Experts disagree. Bolsonaro also strongly opposes that some big cities in Brazil require people who are vaccinated to obtain health passes in order to enter certain public places. Advertising by “For me, freedom is above all else. If a citizen does not want to be vaccinated, it is his right and this is the end,” Bolsonaro told Jovem Pan. Nearly 100 million of Brazil’s 213 million people were fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and another 50 million received a dose of the vaccine. Last week, more than 600,000 people died of Covid-19 in the country, the second largest death toll in the world after the United States. Bolsonaro’s refusal to get vaccinated also drew criticism from abroad, especially when he went to New York to attend the UN General Assembly in September.
News Source: NDTV
