Former President of Peru sought COVID-19 jab out of his turn

The doctor who led a coronavirus vaccine trial in Peru said former President Martin Vizcarra got a COVID-19 jab out of his turn, as a scandal over government officials receiving vaccinations before the general public the South American nation continue.

Dr German Malaga testified in parliament on Tuesday that Vizcarra, who had earlier said he had been vaccinated as a volunteer for clinical trials, was not a volunteer.

"He asked me for two vaccines," Malaga, from Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, led the trial, at a virtual session of a congressional commission. Vizcarra's wife also received a shot.

Malaga said Vizcarra approached him about the vaccination on October 1, when the drug was tried on 12,000 volunteers.

Vizcarra knew he would get the real vaccine from Chinese company Sinopharm, the doctor added.

The scandal over government officials receiving COVID-19 jabs months before Peru officially launched its vaccination campaign led to the resignation of the country's health and foreign affairs ministers, as well as two deputy ministers involved in the fight of the virus.

Vizcarra had earlier confirmed that he and two family members had been vaccinated before Congress removed him in November over a corruption allegation.

Foreign Minister Elizabeth Astete said in her resignation letter that she had received the jab secretly late. "I could not afford the luxury of getting sick," she wrote.

Vizcarra had earlier confirmed that he and two family members had been vaccinated before Congress removed him in November over a corruption allegation.

Foreign Minister Elizabeth Astete said in her resignation letter that she had received the jab secretly late. "I could not afford the luxury of getting sick," she wrote.

This angered many Peruvians.

“They took advantage of their positions. This confirms that the priority was not for colleagues in the intensive care units who faced death 24 hours in a row without even eating, 'Godofredo Talavera, president of the Peruvian Medical Federation, told the Associated Press news agency.

'We understand (now) why they waited so long to buy the vaccines. There was no rush; they would be vaccinated, 'he said. Their duty fails'

According to Johns Hopkins University, Peru has so far reported more than 1.2 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 43,800 coronavirus-related deaths - and it is struggling with a rising second wave.

The country only officially launched its COVID-19 vaccination program this month after receiving 300,000 initial doses of Sinopharm vaccine.

The first priority for jabs is health workers.

Interim President Francisco Sagasti said on Monday that 487 officials, including the former ministers who had resigned, had used their posts to receive early vaccinations in secret.

Sagasti said the officials' names are being passed on to prosecutors.

"These people who were part of our government did not fulfill their duty as civil servants," he said in a television broadcast.

He added that he was outraged at the attitude of 'many public officials who took advantage of their position' and said that everyone involved 'in these totally inappropriate and inappropriate acts will have no place in my government'.