Saudi Arabia: More than 1.5m get COVID-19 jab

Abu Dhabi: The Saudi Ministry of Health has reassured that it is still monitoring the fluctuation in the confirmed and critical cases of COVID-19 in the Kingdom amid a tremendous response from the public to receiving the coronavirus vaccine.

Ministry spokesperson Dr. Mohammed Al Abdel Ali said that more than 1.5 million people have so far received the vaccine.

Addressing the daily press briefing on the coronavirus situation on Tuesday, he said that those who suffer from hypersensitivity can also take the vaccine.

“The vaccines approved in the Kingdom have proven their response to mutated strain of the virus,” he said while indicating that the periods between the two doses are subject to the type of vaccine.

The spokesperson stressed the necessity of home quarantine after contact with an infected person, saying that the individual’s immunity is a step to return to normal life.

Abdul Rahman Al Hussein, spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, called on electronic and retail stores, cafes and restaurants to respond to the initiative to give discounts for those customers who received the coronavirus vaccine.

Al Hussein also urged the public to have advance booking to avoid overcrowding in restaurants and cafes.

“The overcrowding is wrong behaviour inside commercial establishments and must be addressed, and there are three best methods for managing overcrowding, including resorting to advance booking, drive-through system, and maintain social distance of 1.5 metres between two persons,” he said.

He noted that monitoring teams are working to prevent violations of COVID-19 protocols in various regions of the Kingdom.