Argentina COVID-19 vaccine procurement investigations

Argentine judicial authorities are investigating multiple irregularities concerning COVID-19 vaccine procurement and distribution during the administration of Alberto Fernández.

One investigation focuses on pharmaceutical businessman Hugo Sigman and his companies, such as mAbxience and Grupo Insud. Sigman has submitted a formal defense to the judiciary, requesting dismissal from an inquiry into whether his companies were unfairly favored in contracts related to the production and procurement of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine. Sigman maintains that any delays or complexities were due to regulatory issues and global shortages rather than misconduct.

Separately, the ‘Vacunatorio VIP’ case involves allegations of irregular access to vaccines by individuals bypassing official priority protocols. Judge María Eugenia Capuchetti has summoned 34 individuals, including former officials, legislators, and businesspeople, to testify. The prosecutor has charged participants with ‘peculado’ (misappropriation of public funds), alleging that recipients accepted doses despite knowing they were not part of authorized priority groups during a period of scarcity.