RAMALLAH – Palestine yesterday began its Covid-19 vaccination campaign starting with medical workers, Anadolu Agency citing the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
Medical staff members include those who work in intensive care units, medical centres and hospitals treating coronavirus patients.
The ministry said Health Minister Mai al-Kaila received the vaccine at Hugo Chavez Hospital here, while medical workers working in intensive care units were vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine.
It added that the second category of the Palestinian population that will receive the vaccine are elderly people over the age of 60 and those with chronic diseases.
“This campaign will be completed with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, as 5,000 doses will arrive in Palestine within days, in addition to 37,000 doses under the Covax initiative,” al-Kaila said.
Covax is an initiative of the World Health Organisation to ensure equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines, and to make them available to poor and middle-income countries that do not have the ability to sign bilateral agreements for the pre-purchase of the vaccines.
“The Palestinian government has purchased the British AstraZeneca vaccine, and it will arrive in the country during the coming period,” the minister said.
“This campaign will continue until we reach the vaccination of 3.2 million people. This matter will take months.”
According to the ministry, as of yesterday evening, the number of coronavirus cases in Palestine totalled 180,018, including 2,032 deaths and 169,191 recoveries, involving the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. – Bernama, February 3, 2021
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