When the country had just 8.000 doses in its zero phase, the former Minister of Health, Juan Carlos Zevallos, was emphatic in saying that they will be destined for first-line health personnel and geriatric centers. After a long silence – due to his resignation and his trip to Miami – Zevallos acknowledges that it was a mistake to invite other characters to be vaccinated during the first stage of the Vaccine Plan.
His pronouncement is given through a letter published by his lawyer, Pablo Encalada, this Monday, March 22, 2021. There, he insists in his speech that, almost nine months after the pandemic began in the country, there was still ignorance about pandemic management and vaccine supply planning.
“Today we see that in some cases we were wrong when the Government invited people who we believed needed the vaccine to carry out their duties or that its incorporation in the pilot phase could give citizens confidence,” says Zevallos.
The invitations to a VIP vaccination (who did not belong to the zero phase groups) were known by university rectors who published the letters and rejected the attitude of the minister.
Other guests, known to date, were Rodrigo Paz, journalists Gonzalo Rosero and Diego Oquendo, former presidents such as Osvaldo Hurato and León Roldós. All confirmed that they received the invitation and were able to get vaccinated. In addition, Guillermo Lasso also confirmed that he received this invitation, but did not accept.
Zevallos justified these decisions “always thinking about the emergencies of people with high risk and vulnerability and, in the emergency of «giving life»”.
The Prosecutor’s Office is conducting an investigation against the former minister for alleged embezzlement and influence peddling for alleged irregularities in the vaccination plan, including vaccinating his mother and other relatives of him.
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