former president Jair Bolsonaro benefited from a “fake” anti-Covid vaccine certificate

Brazil’s comptroller general’s office, however, recommends closing the case. During his presidency, the far-right leader criticized anti-Covid vaccines on numerous occasions.

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Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attends the inauguration of new Argentine President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires, December 10, 2023. (ALEJANDRO PAGNI / AFP)

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro benefited from a “fake” certificate of vaccination against Covid-19, revealed Thursday January 18 an investigation by the Office of the Comptroller General of Brazil, which however recommends closing the case. In his investigation, the controller points to inconsistencies between documents from the Ministry of Health and Jair Bolsonaro’s vaccination record, which ensures that the former head of state was administered a dose of Covid vaccine in Sao Paulo in July 2022.

So, “concerning the vaccination carried out in Sao Paulo – the only document which appears in the vaccination record of the ex-president – ​​(…) the conclusion is that it is a fraud of the registration system of vaccinations against Covid-19”, said the supervisory body. The investigation concludes that the certificate of vaccination against Covid from which the former head of state benefited is “fake”.

Case closed, “for lack of sufficient evidence”

The controller, however, recommends closing the case, “lack of sufficient information” to find those responsible. He in fact noted that a number of officials could enter false data, having access to the vaccination computer system. This investigation notably aimed to determine whether federal officials had falsified Jair Bolsonaro’s vaccination record.

During his mandate (2019-2022), the far-right leader continued to criticize anti-Covid vaccines, ensuring that he did not intend to be immunized against the virus which has caused more than 700,000 dead in Brazil. He later admitted that he had not been vaccinated.


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