Saudi Arabia to provide free vaccine to citizens and residents

Our Correspondent

The Health Ministry in Saudi Arabia announced on November 23 that it would make the coronavirus vaccine available for free to all citizens and residents.

Dr Abdullah Asiri, assistant undersecretary at the ministry, said Saudi Arabia would obtain vaccines through Covax, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator launched by the G20, and through companies outside of the consortium.

The ministry is hoping to give vaccine cover to 70 per cent of the Kingdom’s population by the end of 2021.

“One of the most important goals set by the G20 during Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency is to support all-inclusive and equitable access to vaccines, diagnostic and treatment tools,” he added.

During the G20 Riyadh Summit last week, Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, supervisor general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, had said at a press briefing that Saudi Arabia would be among the first countries to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine. Dr Al Rabeeah said the country had spent more than $200 million on vaccine and drug development.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia had ordered free coronavirus treatment for all citizens in March when COVID-19 became a pandemic.

Dr Asiri said a comprehensive vaccine distribution plan would “arrive in the coming weeks”. Those under 16 are not eligible unless further studies prove it is effective.

Three vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have been found to be at least 70 per cent effective.