Brazil’s Bolsonaro says vaccine will be free and non-mandatory

BRAZIL — President Jair Bolsonaro said vaccines for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be free of charge and non-mandatory for the whole population of Brazil after it acquires certification from regulatory agency ANVISA.
“We will protect the population by respecting their freedom, and not using it for political purposes, putting their health at risk because of personal gains,” Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter on Tuesday (December 8).
The Ministry of Economy assured that there will be no shortage of resources and every Brazilian will be attended to.
“Once certified by @anvisa_oficial (scientific guidelines and legal precepts), @govbr will offer the vaccine to all, free of charge and not mandatory,” President Bolsonaro added.
Brazil ranks third among countries in the world with the highest number of COVID-19 infections after registering more than 6.6 million cases.
The South American country also records the second heaviest death toll worldwide with more than 177,000. MNP / Beth Pilares