Argentine President Alberto Fernández tested positive for Covid-19 after the Sputnik vaccine

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In a series of tweets posted on Friday night – his birthday – the Argentine president said that a fever and a slight headache caused him to be tested.

“I am already isolated, following the current protocol and following the instructions of my personal doctor,” he said. “We contacted the people we met in the last 48 hours to assess whether they were in close contact.”

An antigen test followed by a PCR test confirmed his diagnosis of Covid-19 this weekend, according to him Fernández’s medical team. The 62-year-old leader’s health remains “stable, asymptomatic, with parameters within normal limits,” they said.

Argentina became the first Latin American country to distribute the Sputnik V vaccine at the end of December, with the purchase of up to 25 million doses. Fernández received the first dose of that vaccine on January 21, and the second in February, a press officer said at the presidential Rosada House.

You may become infected and test positive for Covid-19 after vaccination. While vaccination reduces the likelihood of disease – especially severe cases – it is not yet clear to what extent each coronavirus vaccine prevents all infections.

The Russian Gamaleya Institute, which developed the Sputnik V vaccine, wished Fernández well and emphasized the high protection of fire against severe diseases.

“We are sad to hear this. Sputnik V is 91.6% effective against infection and 100% effective against severe cases. If the infection is indeed confirmed and occurs, vaccination ensures a speedy recovery without severe symptoms. We wish you a recovery. “, read a message on Sputnik V’s official Twitter account, citing rates published in February in the medical journal The Lancet.
Argentina’s initial vaccination campaign was accompanied by scandal, after revelations that a group of about 70 people received early access to the vaccine, resulting in the resignation of then Health Minister Ginés González García.

Fernández defended his own early vaccination as necessary and appropriate, he told reporters during a trip to Mexico in late February, although he acknowledged that so-called “VIP vaccinations” took place under “irregular circumstances”.

“The Argentine media put Alberto Fernández among the people who received the vaccine improperly, but I had to take the vaccine because the Argentine media said that the Russian vaccine could not be trusted. I had to resort to citizens’ trust “. he said.

With only 1.5% of the country’s population now fully vaccinated, the Argentine government remains on high alert. Last week, the country suspended all incoming flights from Brazil, Chile and Mexico due to the increase in Covid-19 cases in these countries, according to the Argentine state news agency Telam. Flights from the United Kingdom have also been suspended.

As of Sunday, Argentina had confirmed more than 2,383,000 cases of Covid-19 and 56,106 deaths from the virus.

Tweeting about his diagnosis on Friday, Fernández urged the country not to let its guard down. “It is clear that the pandemic has not passed and we must continue to take care of ourselves,” he wrote.

Ana Cucalon of CNNE reported from Atlanta, Claudia Rebaza of CNN of London, Ivan Pérez Sarmienti of Buenos Aires, Jaide Garcia of Bogota and Karol Suarez of Mexico City.

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