Lula receives COVID jab as Brazil’s coronavirus crisis continues

Ex-president receives Chinese CoronaVac vaccine and urges people to avoid gatherings amid uptick in infections, deaths.

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has received his first COVID-19 jab, as the country struggles to get surging infections under control and stem rising numbers of coronavirus-related deaths. In a video posted on social media, the leftist former leader called on Brazilians to “avoid gatherings” just days after a Supreme Court judge overturned his corruption convictions, opening the door for a possible future presidential run. Lula, who led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, received a jab of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine in Sao Bernardo do Campo, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo.