Venezuelaâs Covid Toll Is About to Surge
Feb 18 2021, 6:25 AM
February 16 2021, 3:30 PM
February 18 2021, 6:25 AM
(Bloomberg Opinion) Venezuelans had rare occasion to celebrate last week when a government directive cleared the way for hundreds of thousands of their compatriots in harmâs way to receive doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
(Bloomberg Opinion) Venezuelans had rare occasion to celebrate last week when a government directive cleared the way for hundreds of thousands of their compatriots in harmâs way to receive doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
Oh, wait.
The compatriots in question were immigrants, having exited their failing homeland to make a new life abroad. The government was Colombian, whose directive to protect expatriate Venezuelans emanated not from the caudillo in Caracas but his arch-critic over the border, Colombian President Ivan Duque. Better yet, the vaccine offer is part of a broader arrangement to grant temporary protected status to Venezuelans
Analysis: Collapsed health system makes Venezuela vaccination campaign an uphill battle
FILE PHOTO: Venezuela s President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a ceremony marking the opening of the new court term in Caracas, Venezuela January 22, 2021. REUTERS/Manaure Quintero/File Photo reuters tickers
This content was published on February 12, 2021 - 16:19
February 12, 2021 - 16:19
By Brian Ellsworth and Vivian Sequera
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela s deteriorated health system and collapsed economy will make the country one of the toughest places in the region to conduct a coronavirus vaccination campaign, an effort that already trails most of South America, experts said.
The country has one of the region s lowest coverage rates for even basic vaccines, according to regional health figures, driven by years of blackouts, loss of medical personnel and decay of local clinics that are crucial for such campaigns.