Bolsonaro weighs on vaccines and hydroxychloroquine

Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday reiterated his view that the drug hydroxychloroquine, whose effectiveness for the coronavirus has been widely questioned, helped him when he contracted the virus.

Speaking in Brasilia ahead of his first trip away since recovering from COVID-19, Bolsonaro said the drug had been prescribed by a doctor and when he took it, it made him feel better the next day.

"Next day (after taking the medicine) I was fine, if it was a coincidence or not I don't know but it (the hydroxychloroquine) worked," he said.

He added that other ministers in his cabinet had experienced similar positive results from taking the anti-malaria drug.

Bolsonaro said he intended to travel Brazil after beating the disease, which had kept him confined to the presidential residence for more than two weeks.

The president has downplayed the virus’ severity, even after he was infected, arguing against restrictions on economic activity he claims will prove far more damaging than the disease.

His approach to the pandemic runs counter to most health experts’ prescriptions and is disapproved of by the majority of Brazilians, according to recent opinion polls.