NEOM, Saudi Arabia. Photographed by Txema Yeste for Vogue Arabia December 2020
Saudi Arabia has opened registrations for residents to apply to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
The Kingdom‘s official press agency reported the news on Tuesday, highlighting that the Saudi Ministry of Health has opened registrations and that the vaccine will be provided to all Saudi residents and citizens for free. Individuals can registers for the immunization via the Sehhaty mobile health app.
The news follows the approval of the vaccine from American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, which was revealed last Thursday, December 10. The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, which has been found to have a 90% efficacy, passed all of the health ministry’s testing stages, and provided a “strong immune response and antibodies” during testing trials.
“The authority held several meetings to study the data provided by the company, which included meetings with local and international experts and scientists, in addition to meeting the manufacturer and its representatives to answer inquiries submitted by the authority,” said the Saudi Press Agency.
The Kingdom plans to roll out the vaccine in three stages, focusing on different priority levels. The vaccine will first be given to residents over 65 years old as well as professionals who are most vulnerable to infection. Additionally, individuals who are obese, who have an immune deficiency, who have two or more pre-existing conditions such as chronic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and those who have suffered from a stroke will also be vaccinated first.
Following that will be the second stage of inoculations. This stage will target those aged 50 years old and older, remaining health professionals, and individuals with asthma, diabetes, active cancer, or those suffering from a chronic illness.
Finally, the third stage of vaccinations will be given to remaining citizens and residents who wish to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
In similar news, earlier this week, the UAE announced that Abu Dhabi residents can now register to receive the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine that was approved by the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) last week.
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