President Michel Aoun confirmed that the key to the success of the vaccination campaign lies in citizens’ willingness to participate, emphasizing the need to continue taking necessary precautionary measures.
The National News Agency reported this evening that President Aoun mentioned in a tweet that with the arrival of the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccination journey against this pandemic begins. He stressed that the success of this journey depends on citizens’ engagement and reiterated the importance of ongoing preventive measures.
Minister of Health in the caretaker government, Hamad Hassan, announced from the airport that the Pfizer vaccine has arrived in Beirut, a year after the first COVID-19 case appeared in Lebanon. Minister Hassan expressed his relief and happiness at the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine in Beirut, noting that this achievement was made possible despite all challenges, with support from the President of the Republic and the Speaker of the Parliament, as well as assistance from the caretaker Prime Minister. Hassan emphasized that the vaccine will be available to all Lebanese citizens without political or sectarian considerations and will reach all residents in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information in the caretaker government, Dr. Manal Abdel Samad Najd, confirmed that receiving the vaccine is safer than the risks of contracting the virus. She reassured media personnel that they would be among the first to receive the vaccine, as they are the unsung heroes on the front lines.
In a related context, the head of the "Social Medical Gathering," Professor Raif Reda, announced in a statement that a decision had been made to vaccinate using the Russian and Chinese vaccines, given that they have been tested on millions of people worldwide without significant side effects, with an efficacy rate exceeding 90%. Reda warned about the effectiveness of some vaccines against mutated viruses, questioning why Pfizer forced the government to agree that it would not be held responsible for any serious side effects that might occur later.
