(CNN) – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Thursday that while his government will distribute the approved coronavirus vaccines free of charge to the population, he personally will not take one.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the severity of COVID-19, even after contracting the virus in July, and has raised doubts about future vaccines.
During his weekly broadcast streamed live on social media Thursday night, Bolsonaro said the federal government would purchase vaccines approved by the regulatory commission Anvisa, and “place them at the disposal of the population for free and on a voluntary basis.”
“I’m telling you, I am not going to take it. It’s my right,” Bolsonaro said.
He also said that Congress is unlikely to make the vaccine mandatory.
Brazil has the second-highest number of COVID-19-related deaths worldwide and the third-highest number of total cases.
This story was first published on CNN.com, “Brazil’s president says he won’t take a COVID-19 vaccine”
