BRASILIA | A former Brazilian Minister of Health assured Tuesday before a parliamentary commission of inquiry that he had “expressly” warned President Jair Bolsonaro of the “extremely serious consequences” of his denial in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, which made nearly 410,000 dead in the country.
“We have expressly recommended to the president to change his posture, warning that this could lead to saturation of the health system,” said Luiz Henrique Mandetta, a 56-year-old orthopedist, facing a Senate commission of inquiry which must establish the responsibilities of the Bolsonaro government in the health crisis.
Mr. Mandetta was sacked at the end of March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, because he defended physical distancing in an attempt to stem contamination, an idea totally rejected by the head of state.
“Brazil could have done better. We could have started to vaccinate in November, ”insisted the former minister, expected to be a future presidential candidate for the 2022 election, during which Jair Bolsonaro should run for a second term.
The far-right leader has repeatedly criticized vaccines, ironic about the side effects that could “turn Brazilians into crocodiles”. The government is also accused of having refused several offers from laboratories, including 70 million doses proposed by Pfizer as of August 2020.
Vaccination is currently slipping in Brazil, due to lack of doses, and Pfizer’s first vaccine delivery only took place last week, with the order contract only being signed in March.
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