Defense official resigns for early virus shot in Spain

Spain's chief of defense staff resigned following a controversy that saw him getting the coronavirus vaccine by breaking the vaccination protocol, according to media reports

General Miguel Angel Villarroya submitted his resignation to Defense Minister Margarita and it was accepted.

In his resignation letter, he said he had honestly served Spain throughout his 45-year military career.

His resignation comes on the heels of a scandal about Spanish military and political officials getting early vaccinations supposedly reserved for health workers and residents in retirement homes.

Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed more than 2.11 million lives in 192 countries and regions.

More than 98.7 million cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries now more than 54.39 million, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

The US, India and Brazil remain the worst-hit countries.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar