Tawfiq al-Rabiah receives the coronavirus vaccine in Riyadh.
Photographer: Fayez Nureldine / AFP / Getty Images
Photographer: Fayez Nureldine / AFP / Getty Images
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Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah received a shot from the Pfizer Inc. coronavirus vaccine. and BioNTech SE, a day after the kingdom obtained the first batch of vaccine.
“Today marks the beginning of a relief from this crisis,” Ekhbariya told state television. “During the last nine months, I watched with anxiety the number of cases registered. But today I will be happy to see the number of people vaccinated.
Saudi Arabia plans to offer the vaccine free of charge to all residents in the kingdom. The country, which has reported about 360,000 cases and 6,080 deaths, began lifting coronavirus blockages from May. Officials have not imposed any new restrictions since then and so far the country has averted another wave of infections.
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia asked citizens and residents to enroll in its vaccination program. The first phase will include people most exposed to the disease, while the second and third phases will be aimed at those over 50 before the vaccine is made available to the general public.
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– With the assistance of Farah Elbahrawy