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MPs who received the Coronavirus vaccine at the Lebanese Parliament headquarters on Tuesday sparked a wave of widespread criticism of what some saw as a “violation” of the approved vaccination plan, and led the World Bank to threaten to suspend its funding for the bell. .
The Secretary General of Parliament, Adnan Daher, confirmed on Tuesday that 16 deputies, in addition to four employees of Parliament, who are over 75 years old, received the vaccine inside the council headquarters.
Lebanon began the vaccination campaign in the middle of this month, with the support of the World Bank in the amount of 34 million dollars to help it obtain vaccines, on the condition of a fair and equitable distribution according to the priority schedule.
According to the government plan, the first stage of vaccination is reserved for medical personnel and those over 75 years of age. The Ministry of Health established a platform to register those who wish to receive the vaccine themselves on it, provided that they are contacted consecutively to determine the date and place of vaccination. It is not possible to obtain the vaccine without going through this mechanism.
President of the National Committee saluting to resign
The head of the National Vaccination Committee against the Coronavirus in Lebanon, Abdel-Rahman Al-Bizri, said at a press conference: “What happened today is a gap that we cannot keep silent about, it is an attempt to distinguish a A group of people. … and no one can cancel the plan no matter what. “
Al-Bizri had informed the media of his intention to resign from his post in protest, before he backed down after consulting with his committee and the World Bank.
He described the inoculation of deputies as “a great and fatal mistake that should not be repeated.”
The issue generated controversy on social media. One Twitter user wrote: “My mother is eighty-four years old and registered (on the platform), but she did not know it was her turn, while politicians, her family and friends will receive the vaccine before her.”
The World Bank’s regional director, Saruj Kumar Jah, threatened to suspend financial support for the vaccination campaign if the agreed plan was shown to be “in violation”.
He wrote on Twitter that what happened “is not in line with the national plan agreed with the World Bank, and we will record it as a violation of the terms and conditions that were agreed with us for a fair and equitable vaccination.”
“Upon confirmation of the violation, the World Bank may suspend funding for vaccines and support for the COVID-19 response plan throughout Lebanon,” he added in another tweet, adding: “I appeal to everyone, and I mean everyone, regardless of their position: sign up and wait your turn. “
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies oversees the storage and distribution of vaccines, at a time when the entire political class in Lebanon faces accusations of corruption and abuse of influence.
17,000 people have been vaccinated since the first batch of vaccines arrived.
Since the beginning of the year, Lebanon has recorded record rates of injuries and deaths due to the Covid-19 epidemic, and a total of 355,056 cases, including at least 4,340 deaths, have reached since the start of the epidemic in the country annually. behind. Since the middle of last month, Lebanon has witnessed a tight shutdown, which this month has gradually begun to ease its restrictions.
