States and municipalities can decide whether to vaccinate adolescents

The plenary session of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) decided to approve, on Monday (11/10), Minister Ricardo Lewandowski’s preliminary decision that states and municipalities have jurisdiction to immunize adolescents aged 12-17 against Covid-19. The understanding took place in a virtual session that ended last Friday (8/10).

The parties filed a lawsuit in the STF after the Department of Health recommended a moratorium on vaccinating adolescents without comorbidities, on September 16. This action contradicts the position of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), the medical authorities and even the previous recommendation of the file itself.

For Lewandowski, the Health Ministry’s decision was not backed by academic evidence or strategic analyzes required by law. The decision declared “not to mention the scientific and technical standards, norms and standards established by recognized international and domestic organizations and entities”.

According to the minister, the approval of the use of the Pfizer vaccine in adolescents, by Anvisa and the agencies of the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, along with the manifestations of important organizations in the medical field, “leads to the belief that the Ministry of Health made a wrong decision that came at a wrong time.” Appropriate”.

The same file returned a week after the suspension and launched the vaccination of youth 12-17 years old.

Bolsonaro criticizes teen vaccination

President Jair Bolsonaro (non-partisan) again criticized the application of the coronavirus vaccine to teens on Monday. He criticized the measure during a conversation with supporters and journalists at Enseada Beach in Guaruja. The CEO is vacationing in Nossa Senhora Aparecida on the coast of Sao Paulo.

“Why are so many governors and mayors vaccinating 12- to 17-year-olds? based on what? Anvisa recommendation? the health? who who? We mess with lives. Children under the age of 20, the chance of not having anything, once infected, is 99.99%. Is the vaccine cost-effective? Bolsonaro announced.