Bolsonaro Says He Does Not Want Repeat of Ventilator Budget Scandals with Vaccine

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro said on Sunday, October 25th, that he is in no hurry to achieve the vaccine against Covid-19 because he does not want a repeat of the scandals that occurred with funds allocated for the purchase of ventilators.

“We’ve experienced some scandals with the budget for ventilators. We can not afford scandals with a vaccine. We are pursuing the Brazilian vaccine, with great tranquility and responsibility”, said the President.

“It will not happen overnight, ‘oh, on that day there will be a vaccine,'” he said to staff at a fishmonger’s stall he visited at the Cruzeiro street market in the Federal District, one of his stops during his motorcycle ride alongside the Ministers of the Government Secretariat, General Luiz Eduardo Ramos, and the Chief of Staff, Walter Braga Neto.

The Federal Police is conducting several inquiries to investigate the embezzlement of funds to be used in the fight against the pandemic throughout the country. One of these cases involved Senator Chico Rodrigues, formerly one of the Bolsonaro government leaders in Congress.

Rodrigues was caught with money in his underpants during a Federal Police operation. After the incident, he requested temporary license from office.

Bolsonaro again discussed compulsory vaccination for the novel coronavirus. “This vaccine business, of wanting to push it down your throats?”, asked the President, hearing as a reply from the saleswoman that she lacked the courage to take the immunizer.

Amid the political war surrounding the vaccines against Covid-19, Bolsonaro argued on Saturday, October 24th, in jest, that a mandatory vaccine can only be applied to dogs.

On Wednesday, October 21st, Bolsonaro canceled an agreement announced the day before by his Minister of Health, Eduardo Pazuello, to buy 46 million doses of the Coronavac vaccine, under development by Sinovac in partnership with the Butantan Institute, linked to the São Paulo government.

At some times during his tour, Bolsonaro criticized the press and refused to answer questions from journalists, who were kept away from the President by security. “You need to be careful, but not panic. We have to thank the press for this panic,” said Bolsonaro.

The saleswoman agreed with the President and said that the people are “press zombies”. In the conversation with the woman, Bolsonaro said that “we will have to live with the virus all our lives.” “We must be responsible, but not cowardly. Ok, press? Not cowardly.”

The President toured all day Sunday with no mask and caused crowds of people of different ages, including the elderly, the group most vulnerable to Covid-19.

Most of the time, the President heard words of support. But, upon leaving the market, he also heard “Out, Bolsonaro!” cries.

Source: Folhapress