The Saudi Ministry of Health is aiming to offer free vaccines to 70 percent of citizens and expats in the Kingdom who have not yet contracted the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Officials are hoping to have met the target for inoculations by the end of next year.
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Health for Preventive Affairs Dr. Abdullah Al-Asiri said: “Those who have not tested positive for COVID-19 will be given priority in the vaccine campaign in the coming months.”
However, under-16s are not to be vaccinated unless research or tests prove there to be a need, he added.
He noted that the Kingdom planned to announce a clear schedule of vaccinations arrival to the country in the coming weeks.
“The Kingdom worked on two paths to obtain the vaccine, through the COVAX organization, which the G20 had a role in creating and financing.
“Saudi Arabia will obtain a large amount of vaccines through this facility, while the second track is direct contracting with the big companies to cover the gap that cannot be covered through COVAX,” Asiri said.
COVAX is a global initiative aimed at working with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries around the world with equitable access to safe and effective vaccines once they are licensed and approved.
Asiri pointed out that obtaining effective vaccines required a long preparation plan and supply chain, and time for the vaccine to arrive in large enough quantities to the countries requiring it.
The Kingdom plans to announce a clear schedule of vaccine arrival in the coming weeks.
“Therefore, what will be released this year is not expected to be in the large quantities that would affect the pandemic’s trajectory, which isn’t expected before mid-2021,” he added.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Health and the Ministry Spokesman Dr. Mohamed Al-Abdel Ali said on Monday that Saudi Arabia will receive delivery of those vaccines that must fulfill a number of specific conditions. The vaccine must be effective, safe, and approved by the concerned authorities, he said.
Al-Abdel Ali confirmed that critical cases of coronavirus decreased by 6.3 percent during the last week. He stressed the need to strictly adhere to the precautionary measures and preventive protocols issued by the competent authorities.
