The Attorney General of the Republic, Augusto Aras, stated in an opinion sent this Wednesday (25th) to the Federal Supreme Court that, in certain situations, Brazilian states can force the people to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
In another opinion presented to the Court on the same day, Aras said that a person could not be taken by force to get the vaccine. In case of refusal, according to him, judicial liability is required.
A law passed in February this year authorized mandatory vaccination as one of the measures to be adopted to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. The rule says that local health authorities can determine this measure.
Aras said that it is up to the Ministry of Health to establish the obligation of a vaccine. But, in case of inaction by the federal agency in the face of a public calamity scenario caused by a viral epidemic, "may the member states establish the mandatory immunization as a way of better realize the fundamental right to health."
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon