Brazilian Supreme Court Opens Inquiry After President Bolsonaro said COVID Vaccine Allegedly Increases HIV Risk

Brazil’s Supreme Court and Prosecutor General’s Office launched an investigation after the scandalous statement by the country’s President Jair Bolsonaro that coronavirus vaccines allegedly increase the risk of HIV. About the beginning of the investigation reported on the court’s microblog on Twitter.

Judge Alexandri di Morais, in particular, will check whether Bolsonaro’s statement is connected with the activities of the so-called “Department of Hate”. Since the beginning of the pandemic, this union of supporters of the president has been spreading fakes and calling for a military coup that would give Bolsonar unlimited power. transfers Interfax.

“There is no doubt that the behavior of the President of the Republic in terms of spreading false news about vaccination against COVID-19 resembles a mass mailing on social networks,” – quotes TASS decision of the judge.

The investigation was launched following a request sent to the Supreme Court by the upper house of the Brazilian parliament.

The fact that vaccines against coronavirus allegedly contribute to the spread of HIV, Bolsonaro spoke back in October during his weekly speech on the air. Then Bolsonaro cited a publication on one of the sites, which said that those vaccinated against the coronavirus in the UK were allegedly subsequently diagnosed with AIDS. The United Kingdom Department of Health denied this speculation.

Because of this statement, the Brazilian leader was temporarily blocked on Facebook and YouTube, and scientists and doctors confirmed the safety of the developed coronavirus vaccines for most people, including HIV patients.

Against the background of the scandal around Bolsonaro, the parliamentary commission went to court with a request to deprive the president of access to his social media accounts. Lawmakers also demanded that the administrations of social networks Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as the video service YouTube, provide the president’s data, allowing him to manage the president’s accounts in his place. In addition, the senators demanded that information on all connections to these profiles, actions and publications on behalf of the head of state be transmitted to them.

In relation to Bolsonaro, an investigation was previously launched in connection with his decisions to fight the coronavirus in Brazil. It is also known that the head of state refused to be vaccinated and discouraged fellow citizens from vaccinating. Bolsonaro is the only G-20 president who does not even hide that he was not vaccinated against COVID-19, transfers CNN.

In 2020, the Brazilian government ignored at least 81 offers to purchase the Pfizer vaccine, according to a parliamentary commission investigation.

Brazil ranks second in the world in mortality from COVID-19: more than 615 thousand people died in the country, and more than 22.1 million people were infected with the coronavirus. Experts fear that the real numbers could be much higher. Despite President Bolsonaro’s actions, vaccinations in Brazil are now in full swing. According to the Ministry of Health, 60% of the population has already been fully vaccinated.