Brazil health and fitness regulator asks Bolsonaro to retract criticism over vaccines

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro speaks through a ceremony of a general public protection system at the Justice Ministry headquarter in Brasilia, Brazil, November 25, 2021. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo

BRASILIA, Jan 9 (Reuters) – The head of Brazil’s wellbeing regulator Anvisa has asked the country’s vaccine-skeptic President Jair Bolsonaro to retract statements he produced criticizing the company for authorizing the vaccination of young children against COVID-19.

In a letter to Bolsonaro designed public late Saturday, retired rear admiral Antonio Barra Torres asked the president to back up his statement that there were undisclosed “interests” at the rear of the vaccine final decision or else retract his terms.

Bolsonaro criticized Anvisa on Thursday for approving the use for children aged 5 to 11 decades of the pediatric vaccine built by Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), declaring that he experienced not heard of kids dying of COVID-19.

“What is at the rear of this? What are the pursuits of vaccine maniacs?” Bolsonaro mentioned in a radio job interview. read through more

Bolsonaro, a far-ideal leader who has bragged about not currently being vaccinated himself and has continually solid question on the efficacy and protection of coronavirus vaccines , said the pictures could have aspect effects on young ones, but gave no evidence.

Anvisa and well being regulators all around the globe have located that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and sound for individuals from age 5 and up. According to the council of point out health and fitness secretaries, at least 300 children aged 5 to 11 have died in Brazil from COVID-19.

The president’s workplace did not reply to a request for comment on the letter, which came just times right after a further divergence involving Bolsonaro and the military services.

Brazil’s Army differed from the president last 7 days on how to offer with COVID-19. It purchased soldiers to get vaccinated, wear masks and maintain social length, and warned them towards spreading phony news about the pandemic.

Reporting by Anthony Boadle editing by Diane Craft

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