Covid-19. Argentines protest across the country against the “VIP vaccination” scandal

Thousands of Argentines, in large protests, called this Saturday for the resignation of those involved in the clandestine vaccination scandal of “friends of power”, who were given vaccines that belonged to health personnel and the elderly.

Called through social networks under the motto “Enough of privileges! Let those involved renounce”, the protest against the so-called “VIP vaccination” had its epicenter in the Plaza de Mayo, in front of the Casa Rosada, in Buenos Aires, but had replicas in the main squares and avenues in the country.

There was also a strong demonstration in front of the presidential residence for the President, Alberto Fernández, to hear the popular complaint.

Argentine flags, horns, horns and pans formed a scenario of outrage against a vaccine scheme that included the use of the anteroom, attached to the Ministry of Health’s office, as an improvised vaccination room for government ministers, legislators and politicians .

“I am here to renounce all these corrupt people. Now they are also stealing vaccines. They are thieves who take over the state as if it were something particular. I want them to resign and, from now on, there should be transparency in vaccination”, he tells Lusa Carlos Álvarez, 67, in the Plaza de Mayo.

On February 19, when the privileged vaccination scheme was released, President Alberto Fernández dismissed his Health Minister, Ginés González García, and ended the Government’s response to the scandal.

“We know of people under 40 who were vaccinated while I have an aunt of 93 who continues to wait for the vaccine,” compares Nélida Fernández, 63.

In Argentina, the scarce quantity of vaccines is reserved for health personnel and, since last week, for people over 80 years old. So far, less than 60% of health workers have been vaccinated.

However, the “friends of power” took a political shortcut that included three forms of clandestine vaccination: they were either taken on official transportation to the hospital chosen by the Government to serve the privileged, or they were treated at home with a VIP vaccination at home or were treated at home. Ministry of Health itself.

“We have no one to take care of us. With this illegal vaccination, they passed all limits. Before they stole to enrich themselves while impoverishing others. Now, they also steal vaccines to save their lives without caring about the lives of others”, he criticizes, indignant, Marcelo Ortíz, 55 years old.

The scheme worked thanks to a reserve of 3,000 vaccines that the Ministry of Health kept secret for a vaccination parallel to the official scheme.

This week, the Government released a list of 70 names of beneficiaries of the scheme. Minister, former ministers, legislators, an ambassador (in Brazil), a former president and several relatives of the beneficiaries appear. Few believe the list is complete.

“There is a word that is missing in the vocabulary of the Government and of all those who were vaccinated: forgiveness. As never before, a culture of state ownership has been so explicit. The Government must disseminate all the lists in all districts. Without it, it will live a crisis of confidence “, guarantees the opposition senator Martín Lousteau, present in the Plaza de Mayo.

This week, President Alberto Fernández tried to minimize the scandal by reducing it to a mere “queue break”.

“Let’s end this clowning. There is no criminal offense in breaking the line,” said Fernández, drawing a plot between the media, the opposition and the justice system.

The dismissed Health Minister received 13 complaints, ranging from “abuse of authority” to “spread of disease”, including “embezzlement”.

“This is a very tangible protest because the scandal affects closely all people who understand that the diverted vaccines were for their parents, grandparents, friends or acquaintances from groups at risk. And the scandal undermines one of the main pillars of democracy: the of equality “, says political analyst Sabrina Ajmechet, from the University of Buenos Aires.

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