Foreign Minister of Peru resigns over allegations of receiving COVID-19 vaccine before public

Peru's foreign minister has resigned, the second top administrator to resign between a burgeoning embarrassment over politicians getting COVID-19 injections well before the general public.

Elizabeth Astete tweeted that she had been vaccinated last month, calling it a 'serious mistake,' saying she would not receive a second dose.

Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti stepped down last week after a newspaper report that former president Martin Vizcarra had received a recording of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in October.

Peruvian media said Attorney General Zoraida Avalos was conducting a "preliminary investigation" against Vizcarra and others responsible for senior officials' early vaccination.

Public resentment over officials receiving vaccinations - although there was no date for a broader immunization process - has increased. The government has said it intends to vaccinate ten million people by July.

The Latin American nation has been hit hard by the pandemic. Its hospitals were overwhelmed, and a targeted vaccination program for health workers starting only from February 8, after receiving 300,000 doses.

Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti also stepped down last week after a newspaper report that former president Martin Vizcarra had received a recording of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in October.

Peruvian media said Attorney General Zoraida Avalos had launched a "preliminary investigation" against Vizcarra and others responsible for senior officials' early vaccination.

Public resentment over officials receiving vaccinations - although there was no date for a broader immunization process - has increased. The government has announced its plans to immunize ten million people by July.

The Latin American nation has been hit hard by the pandemic. Its hospitals were overwhelmed, and a targeted vaccination program for health workers starting only from February 8, after receiving 300,000 doses.

Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti also stepped down last week after a newspaper report that former president Martin Vizcarra had received a recording of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in October.

Peruvian media said Attorney General Zoraida Avalos was conducting a "preliminary investigation" against Vizcarra and others responsible for senior officials' early vaccination.

Public resentment over officials receiving vaccinations - although there was no date for a broader immunization process - has increased. The government has said it expects to vaccinate ten million people by July.

The Latin American nation has been hit hard by the pandemic. Its hospitals overwhelmed and an effective vaccination program for health workers starting only from February 8, after receiving 300,000 doses.