Rich nations are hoarding vaccines, leaving the poor without. (Photo: AFP)

Caracas, February 9 (RHC)-- The government of Venezuela is ramping up efforts to obtain coronavirus vaccines to inoculate its population, despite the ongoing economic crisis prompted by a series of tough U.S. sanctions.  Although Venezuela has so far succeeded in keeping infections fairly low with regular lockdowns, the nation is still facing many challenges due to Washington’s harsh restrictions.

In this context, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza has slammed the rich countries in the Americas, namely the U.S. and Canada, for hoarding COVID-19 jabs.  Arreaza said that this harmful policy is depriving other countries in the region of enough vaccines.  He said this is tantamount to putting political and commercial interests above human lives. 

The Venezuelan foreign minister said that while the Maduro government works to guarantee a proper vaccination process for all the Venezuelans, it also has to deal with Washington's sanctions that hinder access to such vaccines in the region.