News of vaccine

Chile leads the pack in Latin American vaccine campaign

03-03-2021 18:44 Chile has managed to inoculate 18% of its population with at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19 and is among the first five countries in the world to do so.

Coronavirus pandemic

A year on from first Covid-19 case, virus crisis far from over

03-03-2021 15:58 On 3 March 2020, the first case of Covid-19 was detected in Argentina. One year on, more than 2.11 million have been infected and 52,000 people have lost their lives.

'VIP vaccine' scandal

Political tension soar as anger builds against body bags protest

02-03-2021 21:29 Fernández and government officials clash with opposition figureheads on social media in wake of last Saturday's anti-government protest, as president condemns use of body bags at rally condemning 'VIP vaccine' scandal.

Global pandemic

Covax details rollout of 238 million Covid-19 vaccine doses

02-03-2021 18:16 More than 238 million doses will be distributed around the world by the end of May through the Covax programme aimed at boosting access to coronavirus jabs in poorer nations.

Coronavirus vaccines

Fresh Sputnik batch lifts Argentina's vaccine count to four million doses

01-03-2021 22:24 Government has now managed to acquire four million doses of various coronavirus vaccines, lower than its initial target set last year.

Global pandemic

Uruguay starts vaccination campaign, last in South America

01-03-2021 18:05 Uruguay, the last country in South America to receive delivery of coronavirus vaccines, started its inoculation campaign Monday with a focus on teachers, soldiers, police and firefighters.

Coronavirus vaccine

New shipment: 517,500 doses of Sputnik V arrive in Argentina

01-03-2021 14:08 New shipment of Sputnik V vaccine arrives in Buenos Aires, the government confirmed in a statement.

Global Pandemic

EU to propose vaccine 'digital green pass' for safe movement

01-03-2021 12:37 This month, the European Commission will propose rules for an EU "Digital Green Pass" showing proof of Covid-19 vaccination and test results.

VIP VACCINE SCANDAL

Thousands take to streets to protest 'VIP vaccinations' scandal

28-02-2021 08:59 Anti-government demonstrators rally in cities across the country in protest at the 'VIP vaccines' scandal; President Fernández condemns small group of protesters who attach mock body bags to the gates of the Casa Rosada.

Coronavirus pandemic

90-year-old becomes one millionth to be vaccinated in Argentina

28-02-2021 08:17 Elsa Nélida Alonso becomes the 1,000,000th person to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in Argentina, receiving her jab at the Hospital de Cuenca Alta Néstor Kirchner SAMIC in Cañuelas from nurse María de los Ángeles Martínez.

VIP VACCINATIONS

Latin America’s vaccine scandal claims third health minister

28-02-2021 07:09 Ecuador health minister resigned Friday, becoming the third top Latin American health official forced out in two weeks as outrage grows over the ability of the region’s richest and most powerful to obtain vaccinations before the rest of the population.

AND THAT REMINDS ME...

The craft of graft

27-02-2021 08:42 The paradox of corruption is that it is such an ingrained everyday phenomenon at many levels that it explodes into big news relatively infrequently.

by Michael Soltys

THE WEEK

There's no jab against ego tripping

27-02-2021 07:29 Cutting corners, contacting cronies for dodgy favours and jumping lines is almost a national sport in Argentina.

by Martín Gambarotta

VIP VACCINE SCANDAL

Government struggles to contain ‘VIP vaccine’ scandal

27-02-2021 07:06 Opposition leaders pile on pressure over “vaccinations of privilege,” accusing ruling Peronist coalition of seeking to “vaccinate a Kirchnerite oligarchy.”

Coronavirus vaccines

Laboratory agrees deal to produce Sputnik V vaccine in Argentina

26-02-2021 14:08 Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine to be produced and manufactured in Argentina by local firm Laboratorios Richmond.

Global Pandemic

Ticket to ride: Vaccine passports divide world

25-02-2021 15:27 Vaccine passports: the new normal or drivers of inequality? While some countries and private sector entities believe they could be a ticket to return to pre-pandemic activities, others claim they could be divisive and discriminatory.

Coronavirus Pandemic

Government rolls out five-stage plan to vaccinate teachers

24-02-2021 16:36 Government announces that it will vaccinate teachers with the one million Sinopharm doses that are due to arrive from China on Friday. First round of vaccines will be given to over 450,000 teachers working in pre-school, special needs and primary schools.

Alberto in Mexico

Fernández, López Obrador demand fairer access to Covid-19 vaccines

23-02-2021 16:49 Alberto Fernández and Andrés Manuel López Obrador call for fairer distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in Latin America and across the world, with both in agreement that rich nations are monopolising jabs.

Global pandemic

Waiving IP rights will not boost vaccine production, says pharma group

23-02-2021 15:00 Exempting Covid-19 vaccines from intellectual property rights will not speed up production or distribution of the jabs, a pharmaceutical industry association argued Tuesday.

'VIP vaccination' scandal

President fights back as 'VIP vaccine' scandal grows

23-02-2021 14:09 Peronist leader says that while he rejects the “irregular” vaccinations, it had already cost the resignation of his health minister Ginés González García and did not amount to a crime.

VIP VACCINE SCANDAL

Government releases list of vaccine recipients as scandal grows

22-02-2021 23:38 Pressure grows on Alberto Fernández administration over ‘VIP vaccination’ scandal. Casa Rosada releases a list of Peronist leaders, officials and their family members who received Sputnik jab.

COVID-19 VACCINES

Vizzotti: 1 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine due ‘in next few days’

22-02-2021 21:39 Argentina hopes to receive one million doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine against Covid-19 "in the next few days," Health Minister Carla Vizzotti said Monday.

VIP VACCINE SCANDAL

Survey: 61% distrust government’s Covid-19 vaccination plan

22-02-2021 17:15 Following the controversial "VIP Vaccination" scandal that surfaced at the tail-end of last week, a new Management & Fit survey finds that six out of ten people lack confidence in government's vaccine plan.

ALBERTO IN MEXICO

President arrives in Mexico for talks on business, vaccines

22-02-2021 14:05 Alberto Fernández landed in Mexico City today for an official visit geared towards “strengthening commercial ties” between two countries. President set to meet Mexican counterpart Andrés Manuel López Obrador, billionaire businessman Carlos Slim and visit an AstraZeneca vaccine laboratory.

VIP VACCINE SCANDAL

Fernández slams 'unforgivable' vaccine line-jump scandal

22-02-2021 13:09 President Alberto Fernández, delivering his first comments on the so-called 'VIP vaccination' scandal, said Sunday that the actions of his health minister had been "unforgivable."

VIP VACCINE SCANDAL

Vizzotti sworn in as health minister amid 'VIP vaccine' scandal

21-02-2021 08:40 Carla Vizzotti sworn in as Argentina's new health minister, following the resignation of her predecessor Ginés González García.

GLOBAL PANDEMIC

Wealthy nations up Covax funding amid ‘vaccine hoarding’ claims

20-02-2021 05:54 G7 commits 7.5 billion euros to Covax scheme, just two days after UN warned of global vaccine equities.

VIP VACCINE SCANDAL

VIP vaccine scandal: President asks health minister to resign

19-02-2021 20:56 President Alberto Fernández asks Health Minister Ginés González García to resign post amid claims government supporters exploited contacts to jump vaccination queue.

COVID-19 VACCINES

BioNTech-Pfizer say vaccine can stand warmer temperatures

19-02-2021 14:32 Tests on BioNTech-Pfizer shot have shown that the vaccine can stand warmer temperatures than initially thought, potentially simplifying the jab's cold-chain logistics.

COVID-19 VACCINES

Buenos Aires Province begins vaccinating those aged 70+

18-02-2021 13:58 Provincial government begins to give first shots of Sputnik V vaccine to citizens aged over 70, using schools and other sites as temporary vaccination centres.

Global Pandemic

Venezuela to begin Covid immunisation programme with Sputnik V

18-02-2021 12:44 President Nicolás Maduro announces healthcare workers, legislators, members of the Armed Forces and authorities will start to receive Covid-19 vaccines, with mass immunisation campaign is planned for April.

Global pandemic

Israel's 'green badge' plan to open services to vaccinated stirs concern

17-02-2021 14:36 Israel unveils "green badge" plan to re-open services to those fully inoculated, stirring controversy about unequal access for those who opt out of the jabs.

Coronavirus Pandemic

Vaccine shortage forces Rio to suspend Covid jabs

15-02-2021 16:44 Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro is forced to suspend its vaccination programme due to shortages, fuelling further frustrations with President Jair Bolsonaro's government.

Coronavirus Pandemic

Two Peruvian top officials resign amid Covid-19 vaccine scandal

15-02-2021 16:15 Public resentment over officials receiving vaccinations — despite there being no date for a wider immunisation drive — has seen at least two government officials resign.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Argentina surpasses two million Covid-19 cases, 50,000 deaths

13-02-2021 08:55 Eleven months on from confirmation of the first case in the country, officials said Wednesday that more than two million people have tested positive for Covid-19.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Alberto Fernández and Vladimir Putin share call

06-02-2021 10:16 President Alberto Fernández spoke Tuesday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, with the latter saying that production of the Sputnik V vaccine had been stepped up in order to meet Argentina’s requirements.

DIPLOMACY

Fernández, Macron on same page regarding Covid-19 vaccines

06-02-2021 10:12 Argentine and French leaders call for Covid-19 vaccines to be treated as ‘universal good,’ free from intellectual property restrictions.

DIPLOMACY

Envoy: Argentina to develop ‘strategic coordination’ with Russia

06-02-2021 10:08 Eduardo Zuain, deputy foreign minister during Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s second term in power, eyes closer ties between two nations.

CORONAVIRUS VACCINE

Sputnik V: a scientific and political win for Russia

06-02-2021 10:02 First greeted with scepticism, experts have since been convinced of the effectiveness of Russia’s coronavirus vaccine, securing a major political victory for Vladimir Putin.

AS I SEE IT

Weighed down by an entitlement culture

06-02-2021 09:50 Will Argentina be able to prosper in the brave new world that is coming our way? Not unless she manages to change lanes in the near future. As things stand, this is most unlikely to happen.

by James Neilson

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Argentina better prepared for Covid-19 second wave, says official

06-02-2021 08:32 Health Minister Ginés González García says Argentina has signed contracts for the provision for 62 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines – but provides little information on delivery dates.

CORONAVIRUS VACCINE

Local labs in talks to produce Sputnik V vaccine

06-02-2021 08:24 Government’s decision to go all-in on Russia's Sputnik V vaccine pays off, as analysis published in 'The Lancet' concludes jab is 91.6% effective.

Coronavirus vaccine

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine 91.6% effective, says new study

02-02-2021 09:38 Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is 91.6 percent effective against symptomatic Covid-19, according to a new analysis published in The Lancet on Tuesday.

Coronavirus vaccine

Argentina seeking agreement with Russia to produce Sputnik V vaccine

01-02-2021 23:21 Newly appointed ambassador to Russia, Eduardo Zuain, says government is seeking a deal with Russia to manufacture Sputnik V vaccine in Argentina.

PRESIDENT VISITS CHILE

Fernández calls for closer ties during visit to Chile

30-01-2021 08:51 President flies to Santiago for two-day visit, taking in meetings with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, a host of opposition politicians and businessmen.

THE WEEK

What we learned this week: January 23 to 30

30-01-2021 08:10 Stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina

EDITORIAL

Vaccination versus immunity to change

30-01-2021 08:04 The error-strewn launch of vaccination campaigns marks a new phase in the pandemic and with it some subtle changes in perspective.

Covid-19 vaccine

Aerolíneas Argentinas flight heads to Russia for vaccine doses after delay

27-01-2021 09:43 Aerolíneas Argentinas plane leaves for Russia on trip to pick up a third batch of Sputnik V coronavirus vaccines, two days after originally scheduled departure.

Coronavirus vaccine

Government: Delivery of Russian vaccine to Argentina delayed

26-01-2021 17:56 The scheduled delivery to Argentina this week of doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has been delayed indefinitely, a government source said Tuesday.