Kuwait vaccine
People queue as they arrive to register to be vaccinated for COVID-19 at the make-shift vaccination centre erected at the Kuwait International Fairground in the Mishref suburb south of Kuwait City on December 29, 2020. Image Credit: AFP
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Kuwait City: While Kuwait began its COVID-19 vaccination campaign almost two months ago, apart from frontline and health workers, Kuwaitis have been given the priority in receiving the vaccine over non-Kuwaiti residents, regardless of their age and health conditions.

But now, an informed health source told Al Rai that expats will begin receiving the vaccine in six weeks and domestic workers will be prioritised.

During a special closed meeting at the National Assembly (parliament) on Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Dr Basel Al Sabah, revealed that out of the 454,000 people who have registered for the vaccine, 238,000 are non-Kuwaitis.

Of the 215,000 Kuwaitis who registered, so far 119,000 of them received the jab, Dr Basel pointed out.

Kuwait has ramped up testing in the past few days, with the total number of people vaccinated reaching 137,000, according to Dr Basel.

Around 86.8 per cent of the total number of people who have been vaccinated are Kuwaitis.

Increase in cases, ramp up vaccination

One of the main reasons Kuwait began vaccinating more people, around 15,000 to 20,000 in the last few days according to local media, is due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

The increase in the number of vaccines administered also comes as Kuwait opens 25 vaccination centres, including the mobile vaccination units that are being used for those who are bedridden.

In addition, after it was revealed in January that those between the ages of 16-44 made up 67 per cent of positive cases, the Ministry of Health has started vaccinating as many people in that age group as possible.

That said, only those above the age of 18 are being administered the vaccine as studies showed that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has only been cleared for those above 18.

The fourth shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived in Kuwait a few days ago and is being prioritized for those above the age of 65 and between the ages of 16-17.

As for the Oxford vaccine, the second shipment is expected to arrive in March, which should contain around 400,000 doses.