Brazil green-lights COVID-19 vaccines for children age 5-11

Brazilian health authorities authorized COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 on Wednesday, as South America’s most populous country faces a rapid increase in cases due to holiday gatherings and the arrival of the Omicron variant.

The final green light by Brazil’s Ministry of Health comes three weeks after the nation’s independent medicines regulator, Anvisa, declared Pfizer-BioNTech’s child-size dose to be safe and effective.

“To all those parents who want to vaccinate their children, the Ministry of Health will guarantee doses of the vaccine,” said Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga in Brasilia.

Controversy abounded in Brazil until Wednesday’s announcement, with many alleging an improper delay by the government.

President Jair Bolsonaro, who did not get vaccinated and said he will not immunize his 11-year-old daughter Laura, asked weeks ago to publish the names of those responsible for Anvisa’s decision, unleashing a wave of threats.

Brazil’s Health Ministry recorded 18,759 new cases in 24 hours in its latest data released Tuesday, the highest level since October 5.

ARR