Argentine president asks health minister to resign

By Bala Chambers

LONDON (AA) - Argentine President Alberto Fernandez asked Minister of Health Gines Gonzalez García to resign after it was reported that he offered “VIP vaccination" access to the coronavirus vaccine to a journalist without registering online like other Argentinians.

Journalist Horacio Verbitsky confirmed Friday that he received the Russian vaccine after speaking to his "friend" Gonzalez Garcia.

Others along with Verbitsky have reportedly been given preferential treatment in receiving the vaccine, according to reports.

A replacement for the Health Minister has not been confirmed but reports suggest current National Health Secretary Carla Vizzotti may be Gines Gonzalez Garcia’s replacement.

Argentina has been prioritizing vaccines to frontline medical staffers in the battle against the virus before vaccinating other groups.

The country with a population near 45 million, has registered nearly more than 2 million infections and an excess of 50,00 deaths, according to data from US-based Johns Hopkins University.