Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Saudi Arabia will provide vaccines against coronavirus at pharmacies across the kingdom for free, Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Tawfik Al-Rabiah told Al Arabiya.

The plan comes as part of efforts to expand the ongoing inoculation campaign and facilitate access to vaccine sites, he added.

More than 100 vaccination facilities have opened around the country since Saudi Arabia began its nationwide vaccination campaign on December 17, 2020.

Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority is currently evaluating a number of COVID-19 vaccines in a bid to expand the vaccination process in various regions of the kingdom.

The Ministry of Health indicated that the vaccines currently approved in Saudi Arabia or those currently being evaluated are approved for use starting from the age of 16 or 18 years.

Saudi Arabia has announced on Tuesday (March 2) plans to expand vaccination centers across the kingdom, health spokesman Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly said, adding that pregnant women and children will still not be permitted to receive the coronavirus vaccine as further studies have not been completed yet.

The Minister of Health also announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be a pre-requisite for health workers participating in the hajj season 2021.

“A vaccination committee must be formed for the hajj and umrah season, on which they have adopted the compulsory reception of the COVID-19 vaccine for participating healthcare workers,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has recently launched drive-through vaccine centers in Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Abha.

Individuals wishing to receive the jab must first register through the official Sehatty app.

Reporting by Indonesia Window