Kuwait: All citizens to get COVID-19 vaccine for free

Kuwait City: Once the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Kuwait by the end of the year or at the beginning of 2021, it will be provided for free to all Kuwaiti citizens, Al Anba reported.

A source told Al Anba the vaccine will first be administered to the elderly, people with chronic illnesses and frontline workers, in two doses with 21 days apart.

A committee, spearheaded by the Minister of Health, Dr Basel Al Sabah, is beginning to organise and prepare an online platform where Kuwaiti citizens can go online and book an appointment to take the vaccine.

Arrival of vaccine

While multiple vaccines have been proven to be effective, Kuwait has already placed an order for the Pfizer vaccine. Two weeks ago, the ministry of health stated that it has ordered around one million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

A source told Al Rai the vaccines are expected to arrive in Kuwait in batches, with around 150,000 arriving in the first batch when approved.

Another source told Al Qabas the decision to import the vaccine will depend on Pfizer obtaining official approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Public opinion towards vaccine

Although Kuwait is planning on providing vaccines for all Kuwaitis, many people are uncertain or against taking the vaccine.

Based on a survey done by Al Qabas, where around 10,000 people participated, 46 per cent of them said that they would refuse to take the vaccine, 39 per cent said they would take it and 15 per cent said they are not sure.

An Internal Medicine specialist, Dr Mohammed Al Mousawi, told Al Qabas that usually many people who fear getting vaccinated are unfamiliar with the stages and rules that are required before approving a vaccine. He pointed out that the procedure is complex, with many steps involved, and is judged by a rigorous criterion. And so a vaccine is not approved until it is safe.