Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basel Al-Sabah said that no new coronavirus species were found in Kuwait until now. His remarks came in a statement to reporters, after launching the coronavirus vaccination campaign at Kuwait International Fair on Thursday.
The campaign was launched with the presence of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh. He added that the Ministry of Health is waiting for more information from international organizations on the new species of coronavirus appearing in the UK, Australia, Denmark and South Africa, reported by the media.
Meanwhile, he hailed the efforts of all workers in the vaccination campaign, noting that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled are following in the footsteps of His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in wisely dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Kuwait signed contracts with several companies for the vaccine, said the minister, adding that they will keep an eye on any new vaccines that will be produced in the coming months. He called on both citizens and expats to take the vaccine in order to achieve major immunity against the virus. Sheikh Basel also noted that the priority is for old people aged 65 years and above, as well as for frontline workers.
On his part, Chairman of the Board of Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer said that the society’s volunteers are also working side by side with the campaign’s staff. He added that KRCS is also providing masks, gloves, and wheelchairs for people coming for the vaccination. Meanwhile, health ministry official spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al-Sanad said the ministry understands some people’s fear or doubt towards the vaccination, adding that the ministry is ready to answer their questions regarding the vaccination’s safety. Kuwait only approved using the Pfizer vaccine currently, which was certified by many international organizations.
In the same context, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh said after receiving the Pfizer vaccine against the coronavirus: “Great efforts by the cadres and crews that supervise the vaccination campaign and cooperate from government agencies to facilitate the vaccination process.” Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs receives Pfizer vaccine against the coronavirus.
For his part, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Abdullah Al-Sanad, said through his account on the social networking site “Twitter”: “In the name of God, we begin the vaccination and immunization phase, in parallel with efforts to contain and confront the Corona epidemic.”
Kuwait’s attention shifted yesterday towards the Musharraf fairground, where the first shipment of the “Pfizer” vaccine arrived in the country in special refrigerators, at the vaccination center in Musharraf fairgrounds, marking the launch of the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus, which the Prime Minister, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, launched today. During his inspection of the preparations for the launch of the vaccination campaign, Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basil Al-Sabah stressed that the remaining batches of the “Pfizer” vaccine will arrive monthly, and the vaccination campaign will continue for a year, until all residents of the country are vaccinated, provided that it begins with healthcare providers, front-row workers, and the elderly, in the first phase.