Brazil’s former president Bolsonaro has been accused of falsifying Covid vaccination data

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been accused of falsifying vaccine records during his tenure, he said CNN Brazil.

According to police, Bolsonaro apparently ordered a close aide to put fake vaccination data into a Health Ministry database that belonged to him and his daughter.

Along with Bolsonaro, former lieutenant colonel Mauro Cid and 15 others are singled out in the indictment for their alleged involvement in the scheme.

After the podcast, Bolsonaro’s lawyer Fabio Wajngarten explained Bolsonaro’s position on vaccination as “absurd” according to his knowledge.

Last year, Brazilian authorities launched an investigation into allegations of falsification of vaccination records at the President’s residence in Brasilia. The President has denied any wrongdoing.

Brazil’s public prosecutor’s office will consider whether to prosecute Bolsonaro. Thus, Bolsonaro has been heavily criticized at home and abroad for his approach to the pandemic, which has also been linked to distrust in the implementation of vaccines.

His presidency has not been without scandals, one of which is the ban on vaccination of members of the UN assembly and the accusation of inciting violence after the 2022 elections.

The indictment, along with further investigations into the alleged coup attempt to retain power and election offenses during the 2022 election, will add to Bolsonaro’s legal woes.

After his election defeat, Bolsonaro was suspended from elections until 2030, following the electoral court’s rulings.