A defiant Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he will not have a coronavirus shot when one becomes available, the latest in a series of statements expressing scepticism toward COVID-19 vaccination.
In statements broadcast live over multiple social media platforms on Thursday evening, the right-wing leader added that congress was unlikely to require Brazilians to take a vaccine.
Brazil has the second highest number of coronavirus deaths in the world and Bolsonaro has for months played down the seriousness of the pandemic despite himself being infected with the virus in July.
"I'm telling you, I'm not going to take it. It's my right," he said.
Bolsonaro also expressed scepticism over the effectiveness of mask wearing in the broadcast, implying there was little conclusive evidence of their merits in stemming transmission of the virus.
The president has repeatedly said Brazilians will not be required to be vaccinated when a virus vaccine becomes widely available.
In October, he joked on Twitter that vaccination would be required only for his dog.
Australian Associated Press
