Elderly receive vaccine in Argentina amid scandal

Over-80s in Buenos Aries started receiving their COVID-19 jabs on Wednesday, amid anger over public officials getting inoculated before everyone else.

Last Friday, it was revealed that a journalist, legislators and others close to the government of President Alberto Fernández had received the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.

A few hours after the scandal broke, Fernandez requested the resignation of health minister Ginés González García, who was in charge of the government's COVID-19 strategy.

"It's outrageous. Terribly bad-mannered people, they think we are stupid and are mocking us. Can you believe it?" asked 84-year-old Magdalena Rizzo after she was inoculated Wednesday.

To get an appointment and receive the vaccine, people must register on an official website or call to a city hall phone number.

Many of the elderly receiving the vaccine Wednesday had to ask for help to register, unable to maneuver unfamiliar technology.

Those being immunized Wednesday were given the Covishield jab, developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.