Saudi Arabia to offer free coronavirus vaccine at pharmacies

Health ministry tie-up with private chain will create hundreds of new inoculation centres

Saudis are greeted by a health worker as they enter the coronavirus vaccination centre at the Jeddah old airport in Saudi Arabia. AP Photo

Saudi Arabia will begin offering Covid-19 vaccinations at pharmacies as it expands its drive to inoculate its population of more than 34 million.

The programme, announced by Health Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah, will allow citizens and residents to be vaccinated at all outlets of Al Dawaa pharmacies.

The agreement between the Ministry of Health and Al Dawaa was signed on Wednesday, and a representative of the pharmacy chain told The National that the "vaccines will be available by the end of the month if not earlier".

Umm Walid, a Saudi woman visiting a branch in Jeddah, said she was eager to be vaccinated and was grateful that the government was making it more accessible.

“I hope I am among the first to receive this,” she said.

Saudi Arabia has inoculated more than 1.1 million people so far, the health ministry said on Thursday.

More than 100 vaccination centres have opened since the nationwide campaign began on December 17, with citizens and residents able to register for inoculations through the ministry's Sehhaty app.

The ministry’s tie-up with the Al Dawaa chain, which has more than 800 outlets in the kingdom, will greatly increase the reach of its vaccination drive.

In Jeddah, the local health authority launched a home vaccination campaign on Thursday.

Meanwhile in Riyadh, the governor opened a vaccine centre at Al Hakam Palace to inoculate employees, officials and police.

Several universities also opened vaccination centres, including one at the University Hospital in Al Seih, Riyadh on Wednesday.

The health ministry said this week that inoculation will be mandatory for all those working and volunteering during Hajj this year, and called for the formation of a vaccination committee before the start of the pilgrimage season.

The government, meanwhile, is strictly enforcing health protocols.

“Every 20 minutes we close a commercial facility that has not implemented safety precautions,” Riyadh Municipality said on Thursday.

The kingdom recorded 375 new coronavirus cases and four deaths on Thursday, out of a total of 378,708 cases and 6,514 deaths, with 369,613 recoveries to date.

Watch: Saudi Arabia's drive-through vaccination sites