(AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)RIO DE JANEIRO ā Rumors and conspiracy theories swirled this past week regarding the whereabouts of ZĆ© Gotinha, the mascot for Brazil's national vaccination program.
The clamor surrounding the costumed ZƩ Gotinha began Wednesday, after former President Luiz InƔcio Lula da Silva drew attention to his recent absence.
āWhere is our beloved ZĆ© Gotinha?ā da Silva said in a speech criticizing President Jair Bolsonaroās handling of the pandemic.
They were associated with something terrible, tragic, life-threatening,ā Carla Domingues, former coordinator of the national vaccination program between 2011 and 2019, told The Associated Press.
Due to low supplies and slow rollout, almost 5% of Brazilians have received at least one vaccine shot so far, according to Brazilās national council of state health secretaries.