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Bolsonaro says he will not take the coronavirus vaccine

Bolsonaro says he will not take the coronavirus vaccine
President Bolsonaro. Photo: Alan Santos/PR

The only G20 leader who claims not to have taken the Covid-19 vaccine, President Jair Bolsonaro reiterated on Tuesday that he will not be immunized against the virus. Previously, he had said he plans to be the “last person in Brazil” to receive a coronavirus jab. 

“Regarding the vaccine, I decided not to take it anymore. I’m seeing new studies. My immunity is very high, what would I get the vaccine for? It would be the same as playing the lottery with BRL 10 only to win BRL 2, there’s no point,” he told radio station Jovem Pan. 

During a trip to the São Paulo coast during the Our Lady of Aparecida holiday, Mr. Bolsonaro once again raised criticisms of state governments’ introduction of vaccine mandates, which requires proof of immunization to attend certain public and private spaces. Last week, the president complained he was not allowed into Santos FC’s stadium to watch a match because he is not vaccinated. 

“I’m not against immunization, in December of last year I signed a provisional decree for BRL 20 billion to buy it and now practically everyone has had at least the first dose. Now, demanding the vaccine, this feels like a market thing. For me, freedom is above everything. If citizens don’t want to take the vaccine, that’s their right,” the president added.