President of Fiocruz receives Oswaldo Cruz Medal for vaccination efforts

The Brazilian president of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the minister of Health, Nísia Trindade Lima, presented the Oswaldo Cruz Medal of Merit on Wednesday (9/11) to 23 people and 10 institutions that have promoted efforts to tackle the drop in vaccination coverage in the country. The work of each of the honorees contributed to removing Brazil from the ranking of the 20 countries with the most unimmunized children, according to UNICEF data. President Lula emphasized that “it is an honor to be able to honor you with this medal, as you all defend life, the SUS [the Brazilian Unified Health System] and democracy”. The president of Fiocruz, Mário Moreira, was one of the honorees at the ceremony, held at the Planalto Palace.

Mario Moreira between minister Nisia and president Lula in Brasilia (photo: Ricardo Stuckert)

"With great pride and emotion, I received the Oswaldo Cruz Medal of Merit from minister Nísia Trindade and president Lula, an honor that symbolizes the legacy of one of the greatest icons of Brazilian science and health. This is a moment of celebration for the people and institutions that are dedicated to the vaccine and to vaccinating the Brazilian people," explains Mario Moreira. "I understand that this medal has been awarded to all of us, the workers at Fiocruz who dedicate themselves daily to defending the SUS, to the cause of public health, in honor of the legacy of our patron Oswaldo Cruz. We will remain firmly committed. This medal is ours!".

Lula emphatically criticized the denialism of many authorities, public figures and health professionals during the pandemic. "These people have no idea what vaccines have meant and mean in human history. Millions have been saved because of vaccines. Those who took a stand against it did not have the sense to be a little humanist, to be a little fraternal, to be a little supportive and to be a little, who knows, truly human." The president also said that he never thought he would live in a time when a president of the Republic, health ministers, doctors and personalities had "the gall to invent so many lies against vaccination. They had no compassion".

The president said that the SUS has saved many lives. "Due to denialism, Brazil, which has 3% of the world's population, recorded 10% of deaths from COVID-19 worldwide. And if it weren't for the work capacity and honesty of the professionals who work in the SUS, Brazil would have mourned many more deaths."

In her speech, minister Nísia recalled the work of Oswaldo Cruz at the beginning of the 20th century, when he faced a bleak scenario in Rio de Janeiro, with epidemics of plague, smallpox and yellow fever, at a time when the country had no public health system, which would only come into existence with the 1988 Constitution, and no social security, which emerged in the 1930s. The minister said that more than a century later the country faced immense challenges, such as disinformation and denialism during the COVID-19 pandemic, "with a government that worked against science, against knowledge and against vaccines".

Nísia emphasized that "In the country of Zé Gotinha (symbol of vaccination) and the SUS, they wanted to install fear, but with the return of president Lula, we were able to overcome this situation. We are at a moment of overcoming, transformation and progress". The minister pointed out that after the attempted coup on January 8, 2023, Lula announced, together with the state governors, the National Vaccination Movement, which aims to unite the country in a pact to value science and encourage vaccination

The president of the National Health Council (CNS) and health director of the National Confederation of Residents' Associations, Fernando Pigatto, and the president of the Brazilian Immunization Society (SBIm), Monica Levi, both honored with the Oswaldo Cruz Medal, gave short speeches. Student Isadora Montenegro, from the Elementary School Center of Brasília (Centro de Ensino Fundamental de Brasília), was invited to speak and read an essay she wrote at school about the importance of vaccination.

The homage

Established in 1970, the Oswaldo Cruz Medal of Merit is awarded to Brazilians or foreigners who, in the field of scientific, educational, cultural and administrative activities related to hygiene and public health in general, have distinguished themselves in a notable or relevant way and have contributed, directly or indirectly, to the physical and mental well-being of the Brazilian community. The honor is divided into three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze. All honorees in this edition will receive the Gold category.

Personalities honored

Aparecida dos Santos Bezerra, nurse working in indigenous health and vaccinator;

Atila Iamarino, biologist;

Cristiana Maria Toscano Soares, physician, deputy head of the Department of Collective Health at the Federal University of Goiás;

Daiane Garcia dos Santos, gymnast and ambassador for the National Vaccination Movement;

Dorinaldo Barbosa Malafaia, federal deputy and coordinator of the Parliamentary Front in Defense of the Vaccine in the House of Representatives;

Esper Georges Kallás, executive officer of the Butantan Institute;

Fabio Baccheretti Vitor, president of the National Council of State Health Secretaries (Conass) and Health Secretary of Minas Gerais;

Fernando Zasso Pigatto, president of the National Health Council and health director of the National Confederation of Residents' Associations;

Francisco de Assis de Oliveira Costa, federal deputy and president of the Health Commission in the House of Representatives;

Hisham Mohamad Hamida, president of the National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries (Conasems) and health secretary of Pirenópolis (GO);

Humberto Sérgio Costa Lima, senator and president of the Senate Social Affairs Committee;

Ivan Baron, educator and anti-capacitism activist;

Jayme Martins de Oliveira Neto, Chief Judge of the São Paulo Court of Justice and member of the Health Commission of the National Council of Public Prosecutors;

José Cassio de Moraes, physician and full professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Charity Hospital of São Paulo;

Luiza Helena Trajano Inácio Rodrigues, businesswoman;

Margareth Maria Pretti Dalcolmo, researcher at Fiocruz and member of the National Academy of Medicine;

Maria da Graça Xuxa Meneghel, actress, presenter, singer, businesswoman and ambassador for the National Vaccination Movement;

Mario Santos Moreira, president of Fiocruz;

Meiruze Sousa Freitas, pharmacist and director of Anvisa's Second Directorate;

Renato Kfouri, vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm) and president of the Department of Immunizations of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP);

Rosangela Lula da Silva, first lady of Brazil;

Rosileia Maria de Souza, president of the Lagoinha Quilombo Association in Bahia;

Sirlene de Fátima Pereira, nurse from the Ministry of Health's National Immunization Program.

Institutions honored

Favela News Agency (Agência de Notícias das Favelas);

Brazilian Association of Collective Health;

Brazilian Nursing Association;

National Confederation of Community Health Workers;

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF);

All for Health (Todos pela Saúde) Institute;

Pan American Health Organization;

Rotary Club;

Brazilian Society of Pediatrics;

Brazilian Society of Immunizations.