Lebanon secures COVID-19 vaccines for 20% of its citizens: Health minister

Lebanon secures COVID-19 vaccines for 20% of its citizens: Health minister

'We have reserved about 2 million doses of the vaccine and that will be enough for 20% of Lebanese living in the country,' the health minister said







Reuters

, Monday 28 Dec 2020







FILE PHOTO: People walk along Beirut's seaside Corniche, as Lebanese authorities warned of a new wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as the numbers jumped to the highest point in more than a month, after the government eased some restrictions on public life, in Beirut, Lebanon May 10, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)













Lebanon has secured about 2 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, which will cover 20% of the country's nationals, the health minister said on Monday.

Hamad Hassan told Reuters two weeks ago the country was about to sign a deal for supplies and that the first batch would arrive eight weeks later.

"We have reserved about 2 million doses of the vaccine and that will be enough for 20% of Lebanese living in the country," he said at the presidential palace on Monday.

Lebanon's hospitals are under pressure as infections surge. Doctors warn ICU beds are filling up fast.

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