Saudi Arabia approves Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for Pakistanis

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: PM Adviser on Health Dr Faisal Sultan has said that Saudi Arabia has approved Covid-19 vaccine Oxford-AstraZeneca and now people aged over 18 who intend to go to KSA could get the British vaccine jab from any vaccination centre in the country.

Dr Sultan said on Tuesday that the Saudi Kingdom approved another vaccine apart from US-made Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The people who want to go to Saudi Arabia for employment purposes and they are over 18, they could get shot of AstraZeneca vaccine from any vaccination center in the country after showing their Saudi work permit, he added. He said this offer would be valid from today.

Dr Sultan said in case Oxford-AstraZeneca would not be available in villages or towns, people could come to big cities and get their jabs.

He, however, said that the World Health Organization should ensure the acceptability of its approved vaccines all over the world. He said Pakistan was engaged in talks with Saudi Arabia to bring it around regarding its acceptance of the WHO-approved vaccines.

He said Chinese Covid-19 vaccines, SinoVac and SinoPharm are not included in the approved vaccines list of the Saudi Kingdom.