Bolsonaro asked to retract criticism over vaccines

BRASILIA: The head of Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa has asked the country’s vaccine-sceptic President Jair Bolsonaro to retract statements he made criticising the agency for authorising the vaccination of children against Covid-19.

In a letter to Mr Bolsonaro made public late on Saturday, retired rear admiral Antonio Barra Torres asked the president to back up his statement that there were undisclosed “interests” behind the vaccine decision or else retract his words.

Mr Bolsonaro criticised Anvisa on Thursday for approving the use for children aged 5–11 years of the pediatric vaccine made by Pfizer Inc, saying that he had not heard of children dying of Covid-19.

“What is behind this? What are the interests of vaccine maniacs?” Mr Bolsonaro stated in a radio interview.

Mr Bolsonaro, who has bragged about not being vaccinated and has consistently cast doubt on the efficacy and safety of coronavirus vaccines, said the shots could have side effects on children, but gave no evidence.

Anvisa and health regulators around the world have found that Covid-19 vaccines are safe for those from age 5 and up. According to the council of state health secretaries, at least 300 children aged 5 to 11 have died in Brazil from Covid-19.

The president’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the letter, which came just days after another divergence between Mr Bolsonaro and the military.

Brazil’s army has ordered soldiers to get vaccinated, wear masks and warned them against spreading false news about the pandemic.