Chinese covid vaccine secretly given to VIPs
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A health worker prepares a dose of the Sinopharm s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, in Lima, Peru, February 9, 2021. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda/Files
(REUTERS)
Ryan Dube
, The Wall Street Journal
In Peru and elsewhere, some politicians and the well-connected got China’s Sinopharm shot months ahead of health workers and other vulnerable groups
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LIMA :
After Peru’s death toll from Covid-19 surged last fall, nearly 500 politically connected people, including then-President Martin Vizcarra, were secretly given a Chinese vaccine, according to Peru’s government.
The revelation that government consultants, lobbyists, cabinet ministers and the former president and his family were inoculated starting in September before the vaccine was approved by Peruvian authorities has resulted in a roiling scandal now dubbed Vaccine Gate.
New Zealand's biggest city has begun a snap three-day lockdown, forcing two million people to stay at home, as authorities scramble to contain the nation's first outbreak of the highly contagious variant first detected in the UK.
Peru Foreign Minister Resigns Over Early Vaccination Scandal
02/15/21 AT 1:58 AM
Peru s foreign minister resigned Sunday, the second top official to step down amid a growing scandal over politicians receiving Covid-19 vaccinations well before the general public.
The South American nation has been badly hit by the pandemic, with its hospitals overwhelmed and a targeted vaccination program for health workers rolling out only from February 8.
Public resentment over officials receiving vaccinations despite there being no date for a wider immunization drive has seen at least two government officials resign.
Peruvian media said that Attorney General Zoraida Avalos had opened a preliminary investigation against ex-president Martin Vizcarra and others responsible for the early vaccination of senior officials.
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