Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro shocked even his strongest supporters this week with an explosive tirade against the COVID-19 vaccine, despite 7.1 million virus cases in the country and more than 185,000 deaths .
“I am not going to get it [the vaccine]. Some say they set a bad example. Hey a hole, oh idiot, what about the bad example, I already had the virus, I already have antibodies. Why should I get the vaccine again? Bolsonaro said in a speech captured by the UOL news service to a crowd in Porto Seguro. Bolsonaro contracted COVID-19 earlier this year.
Brazil has two cases of reinfection and scientists are not sure how long the antibodies will last, according to the news site.
Bolsonaro then went on to smash the US drug company Pfizer and its vaccine. The company has been relieved of liability for the side effects of the vaccine – which Bolsonaro rhetorically said could turn someone into an alligator and not be responsible.
“And another thing that needs to be clarified,” Bolsonaro accused. “There, in the Pfizer contract, it is very clear that we (Pfizer) are not responsible for any side effects. If you become an alligator, that’s your problem. … And worse, altering people’s immune systems. “