VIP vaccine scandal: President asked Argentina health minister to resign

Argentina's president has demanded the withdrawal of Health Minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia, two experts in the presidency, announced on Friday after media stories that people could use compounds to gain entrance to COVID-19 vaccines.

The rumor, which developed after an expert journalist stated he received a slap in the face after speaking directly to the minister, drew attention to wider fears in the region about corruption and access to vaccines, which are falling short, shown.

The two sources in the presidential office confirmed to the news agency Reuters the reports that the president had asked Garcia to resign.

"The president has indicated to the chief of staff that the health minister should be required to leave," one of the sources told.

Argentina's health ministry did not directly respond to a question for comment.

Well-known local journalist Horacio Verbitsky stated he was granted a chance after being granted the possibility by the reader.

"I called my old friend Gines Gonzalez Garcia, and he told me to go to Posadas Hospital," Verbitsky, who is in his 70s, reported El Destape radio station.

Since December, Argentina has been using the Russian Sputnik V vaccine to vaccinate health workers at the forefront, although deliveries have lagged far behind what they initially hoped for.

The country began vaccinating some people over the age of 70 this week, but appointments are rare, and people are supposed to follow a procedure that requires them to register first.

Argentine media reported several cases of politicians and others who were not in priority groups.

As of Wednesday in Argentina, approximately 250,000 people have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The country of about 45 million people has confirmed more than two million coronavirus infections and 51,000 deaths.

Earlier this month, Peru's health minister had to step down after reports of hundreds of Peruvian officials and others receiving vaccine doses outside of clinical trials and before the national vaccination program began.

The government has been shocked by charges against some 500 government officials - including former President Martin Vizcarra and top ministers - who are accused of being vaccinated before their turn.