Brazil's VP Mourão says mass vaccination needed against COVID-19

BRASILIA, Sept 3- Brazil’s Vice President Hamilton Mourão said in a radio interview on Thursday that immunization against COVID-19 will necessarily require mass vaccination, and “everyone in the government knows that.”

BRASILIA, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Brazil’s Vice President

Hamilton Mourão said in a radio interview on Thursday that

immunization against COVID-19 will necessarily require mass

vaccination, and “everyone in the government knows that.”

He appeared to be clarifying the government’s position afterPresident Jair Bolsonaro, who has consistently downplayed theseverity of the coronavirus outbreak, said on Monday that nobodywould be forced to take the vaccine once it is available.(Reporting by Ricardo BritoEditing by Chris Reese)