Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has not taken vaccination against COVID-19. (file)
Brasilia:
Brazil’s covid-battered President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday he would attend next week’s UN conference in New York, effectively defying city officials who recently announced vaccinations for all attending leaders and diplomats. requirements were announced.
“Next week I will be at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where I will give an opening speech on Tuesday”, the president said during a social media broadcast.
Bolsonaro said it would be “a quiet speech, very purposeful, focused on issues that interest us,” adding that he would discuss Brazil’s approach to the coronavirus pandemic, its agribusiness and energy.
On Wednesday, the New York mayor’s office wrote to UNGA giving guidelines requiring delegates to show proof of vaccination to enter the debate hall – a move that raised questions about Bolsonaro’s personal involvement.
The letter, signed by New York City’s health commissioner, said that the United Nations debate hall was classified as a “convention centre”, meaning that all attendees should be vaccinated, like some indoor ones in the city. other people participating in the activities.
Hours later, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he could not impose a requirement on heads of state.
Bolsonaro, who had the virus last year, has said he will be the “last Brazilian” to be vaccinated.
Brazil, with a population of 213 million, ranks fourth worldwide in terms of vaccine doses, according to the research group Our World in Data.
But the president has so far refused to get the shot, claiming he is already immunized because his antibody rate remains “over the top”.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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