Vacunagate (from ''vacuna'' (the Spanish word for "vaccine") and the suffix -gate; translatable into English as ''Vaccinegate'') is the term used by the

media Media may refer to: Communication * Media (communication), tools used to deliver information or data ** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising ** Broadcast media, communications delivered over mass el ...

to refer to the

scandal A scandal can be broadly defined as the strong social reactions of outrage, anger, or surprise, when accusations or rumours circulate or appear for some reason, regarding a person or persons who are perceived to have transgressed in some way. Th ...

that occurred in

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

over the irregular vaccinations of 487 people (mainly senior officials of the Executive Power of Peru) against

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

that began on February 10, 2021. The crisis began with information dissemination that the former president

Martín Vizcarra Martín Alberto Vizcarra Cornejo (; born 22 March 1963) is a Peruvian engineer and politician who served as President of Peru from 2018 to 2020. Vizcarra previously served as Governor of the Department of Moquegua (2011–2014), First Vice Pre ...

had received vaccines against the disease of the new coronavirus intended for Phase III of the

clinical trial Clinical trials are prospective biomedical or behavioral research studies on human participants designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions, including new treatments (such as novel vaccines, drugs, dietar ...

s of

Sinopharm China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (CNPGC), commonly referred to as Sinopharm, is a Chinese state-owned enterprise. The corporation was the indirect major shareholder of publicly traded companies Sinopharm Group (, via a 51–49 j ...

in October 2020, without this being public knowledge. Of the research teams at the two universities in charge of the study, the receipt and administration of the Sinopharm study vaccines, as well as the irregular order of 3,200 additional doses outside the clinical study, was given at the request of the medical researchers Germán Málaga and Hugo García Lescano, leader and coordinator of the research team of the

Cayetano Heredia University Cayetano Heredia University ( es, link=no, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, UPCH; or simply ''Cayetano Heredia'') is a private nonprofit university located in Lima, Peru. It was named in honor of Cayetano Heredia, one of the eminent Peruv ...

who would have facilitated access to vaccines for senior officials, family members, and various people outside the volunteers at their headquarters of the clinical study and the direct personnel involved in it. The actions were aggravated when it was discovered that Germán Málaga administered three doses to 40 people at his headquarters, including himself and a deputy minister, irregularly and without written consent. Various university authorities vaccinated irregularly, including the rector and vice-rector, resigned as a result of the scandal. Finally, the National Institute of Health of Peru indicated the departure of the principal investigator responsible, and suspended the Cayetano Heredia University as the center for conducting new clinical trials. Presidential candidate and economist

Hernando de Soto Polar Hernando Soto Polar (commonly known Hernando de Soto ; born June 2, 1941) is a prominent Peruvian economist known for his work on the informal economy and on the importance of business and property rights. His work on the developing world has ea ...

was also irregularly vaccinated. He initially denied an allegation of him being involved in the scandal, but it was exposed that he had flown illegally twice to the United States. De Soto was also detained for violating curfew and campaigning rules, and for being involved in Vacunagate on April 6, but was released the next day. The inoculation of vaccines would have criminal consequences, as high-ranking officials of the Government of

Francisco Sagasti Francisco Rafael Sagasti Hochhausler OSP ( (); born 10 October 1944) is a Peruvian engineer, academic, and author who served as the President of Peru from November 2020 to July 2021. Sagasti has worked as an advisor for economic development a ...

were vaccinated, such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Elizabeth Astete Esther Elizabeth Astete Rodríguez is a Peruvian politician who served as the country's Foreign Minister from 18 November 2020 to 14 February 2021. Education Astete Rodríguez has a degree in International Relations. Career Astete Rodríguez h ...

, the Minister of Health Pilar Mazzetti, the 2 Vice-Ministers of Health, and senior officials of the

Foreign Ministry In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

in the midst of negotiations with the Sinopharm laboratory for the acquisition of vaccines. Among the vaccinated officials, there are 8 members of the negotiating committee, who received the vaccine before and after the purchase process.

References

{{Peruvian political crisis 2021 in Peru 2021 controversies COVID-19 pandemic in Peru Corruption in Peru Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on politics

See also

References