Kuwait approves emergency use of Pfizer vaccine

Kuwait City: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health approved the emergency use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, local media reported. The Assistant Undersecretary for Drug and Food Control Affairs at the Ministry of Health, Abdullah Al Bader, said in a press statement that approval was granted after a committee conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the vaccine and reviewed the results of the clinical trials.

Eligible patients

A member of the COVID-19 vaccination committee, Dr Khaled Al Saeed, told Al Jarida that around 10,000 people will be vaccinated per day, giving a priority to frontline workers, the elderly and those who suffer from chronic illnesses.

Last week, Kuwait launched a website for those looking to register to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Early registration does not necessarily lead to early vaccination or priority; it only provides the Ministry of Health with the data that could help identify the prioritised segments of the public and the required quantity and distribution of the vaccine,” Abdullah Al Sanad, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health said in a statement to KUNA.

The Mishref Fairground has been designated as the headquarters for vaccination and hosts the refrigerators that will be used to store the vaccine upon its arrival.

Last month, a source told Al Qabas that Kuwait had agreed to import around one million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Risk factor

As Kuwait prepares to start the immunisation process, many are uncertain about or opposed to taking the vaccine.

A survey done by Al Qabas, in which around 10,000 people participated, showed that 46 per cent said they would refuse to take the vaccine, 39 per cent said they would take it and 15 per cent said they were not sure.

In an interview with Al Qabas, Al Saeed said the vaccine is safe and the side effects are mild.

Al Saeed pointed out that the vaccine will provide 50 per cent protection two weeks after the first dose and then 95 per cent a week after the second dose.