From: inteligencialtda
In a debate, the topic of vaccine mandates in Brazil was discussed, focusing on the stance of Jair Bolsonaro’s government and the relevant legislation.
Law 13,979 and Compulsory Vaccination
Law 13,979, signed by Jair Bolsonaro, mandates vaccination and grants powers to governors and mayors for compulsory vaccination [00:21:24]. Article 3 of this law allows for the adoption of measures such as compulsory medical examinations, laboratory tests, sample collection, clinical vaccination, and other prophylactic or specific medical treatments to respond to public health emergencies [00:21:51], [00:22:05]. This law is currently in effect [00:23:23], allowing states and municipalities to implement mandatory vaccination [00:24:22].
Debaters’ Stances
One debater, Nicolas, explicitly stated that he does not agree with mandatory vaccination [00:20:58], though he acknowledged not having read the specific law in the sense of compulsion [00:22:40]. He further clarified that if the law indeed makes vaccination mandatory, he disagrees [00:23:02]. From a conservative perspective, Nicolas expressed belief in the primacy of the collective right over the individual right in such situations [00:24:41].
The other debater, Nando, questioned why Jair Bolsonaro signed a law mandating vaccination if he is supposedly against it [00:23:09]. Nando highlighted that the law states measures “may be adopted,” indicating a possibility, and empowers local authorities [00:23:51], [00:24:00]. He referenced historical precedents for mandatory vaccination, such as for yellow fever in the Amazon and Africa, and for children [00:24:58], [00:25:05], [00:25:08].
Related Issues
The discussion also touched upon criticisms regarding the handling of the pandemic, including the government’s approach to vaccines, with allegations of not purchasing available vaccines [00:28:28]. The government was accused of delaying vaccine purchases until after the COVID CPI investigation began [00:43:30], specifically mentioning a commitment to buy Covaxin, which was later broken [00:43:07], [02:00:50]. It was noted that Brazil ranked 60th in the world for vaccinated inhabitants per 100 people [02:00:50].