Saudi to offer Covid-19 vaccine for free to citizens and residents

Saudi to offer Covid-19 vaccine for free to citizens and residents

Saudi Arabia plans to offer Covid-19 vaccines for free to all the citizens and residents living in the country, the kingdom's Ministry of Health said on Monday.

The ministry is aiming to have enough vaccines to cover 70 per cent of the country's population, who have not yet contracted Covid-19, by the end of 2021, officials told local media.

"Saudi Arabia is obtaining vaccines for public health purposes and therefore it has not included them on the list of products that are chargeable,“ Saudi's deputy health minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Asiri told Al-Ekhbariya TV.

"Those who have not tested positive for Covid-19 will be given priority in the vaccine campaign in the coming months,“ he said.

"Most of the coronavirus vaccines are administered twice, except one. Children under 16 years of age will be excluded from receiving the vaccine at this stage,“ he added.

Al-Asiri also said the kingdom had planned a clear schedule for the arrival of vaccinations.

"The kingdom worked on two paths to obtain the vaccine, through the Covax organisation, 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