Covid-19 in Saudi Arabia: Kingdom to Be “One of the First Countries” to Receive Vaccine

The latest updates on a potential Covid-19 vaccine have instilled hope in many across the world, with an end to the devastating pandemic possibly in sight. While there are reports of several different treatments being developed across the world, it seems that Saudi Arabia may be one of the first countries in line for a vaccine.

According to the assistant deputy minister for preventive health, Abdullah Al-Assiri, the Kingdom has signed an agreement to receive a substantial amount of early supplies of different vaccines that have successfully reached the final stages of their clinical trials. The country has reportedly gained the rights for the supplies of two or three vaccines.“Saudi Arabia will be one of the first countries to receive the vaccines,” Al-Assiri said during an interview on Saudia TV on Wednesday.

The Kingdom has seen a decrease in the number of coronavirus cases this week, with the daily total of new infections now below 400 again, sitting at around 394. Additionally, daily recovery rates have been steadily increasing with 338,708 patients having recovered from the virus. However, the total number of coronavirus deaths in the Kingdom has reached 5,590, with an additional 14 fatalities being recorded this week.

News of the successful treatment potentially reaching Saudi Arabia comes after reports this week stating that another vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has been found to be 90% effective. While the vaccines developed must receive approval before their distribution to the world’s populations, it does provide a glimmer of hope that the pandemic that has claimed the lives of over one million people, devastated economies, and seen the world put into lockdown, could finally come to an end.

In the UAE, a vaccine developed by Chinese drug maker Sinopharm, has started to be administered to frontline workers and government officials, with Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development HE Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai being confirmed to have received the vaccine.