"Brazil to mandate COVID shots for children as young as 6 months"

"The Brazilian Ministry of Health has added the COVID-19 vaccine to the country’s National Immunization Program (PNI) for children 6 months to 5 years old, Agência Brasil reported.

The new policy will take effect in 2024, despite growing opposition among Brazilians and testimony by experts highlighting concerns about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for children and increased incidences of myocarditis, pericarditis, and other conditions among young vaccinated individuals.

Despite these concerns, which were addressed in a recent hearing before Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies and by several opposition lawmakers, Brazilian Minister of Health Nísia Trindade defended the new policy, while the Brazilian government said families of unvaccinated children will not receive support from the Bolsa Família welfare program.

In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for young children, a bill under consideration by the Brazilian Senate would establish vaccination centers in the country’s schools...

According to Brasil 61, the PNI will require three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The first two doses will be administered four weeks apart, while the third dose will be administered eight weeks after the second dose.

Brazilian newspaper O Dia reported that the COVID-19 vaccines that will be available to children include Pfizer’s pediatric formulation for children 6 months to 5 years of age and the Chinese-made CoronaVac (Sinovac) vaccine...

Compliance with the PNI and the new COVID-19 vaccination requirement will be a prerequisite for participation in the 'Bolsa Família,' Brazil’s social welfare program.

According to O Dia, 'The Bolsa Família Program, created in October 2003, in the first government of [current President] Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva… exists to guarantee basic income for Brazilians and Brazilians in poverty.'

Receipt of the monthly benefit of R$600 (approximately $100), is contingent on families complying 'with commitments in the areas of health and education, to strengthen access to their basic social rights,' O Dia reported, adding:

One of the conditionalities for receiving the benefit is the follow-up of the national vaccination schedule, in addition to the prenatal period, school attendance minimum 60% for children from 4 to 5 years, among other criteria.

Therefore, with the COVID-19 vaccine included in the national immunization calendar, it is mandatory that families benefited by the program vaccinate children against the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Gazeta Do Povo reported that 'With the obligation, not vaccinating children could result in fines and loss of social benefits, such as Bolsa Família.'

According to Brazil’s Federal Nursing Council, parents began receiving an additional R$150 (approximately $30) per child each month if they comply with school attendance and vaccination requirements...

Cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough told The Defender his testimony 'advised that COVID-19 vaccines cause fatal heart damage and a host of other side effects,' and that they are 'unsafe for use in children.'"