The designated president Saad Hariri had a telephone conversation with the Russian president's special envoy to the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.
The National News Agency reported today that the media office of Saad Hariri issued a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry indicating that a phone call took place today between Hariri and Bogdanov. The discussion focused on the social and political crisis in Lebanon, emphasizing the need for the swift formation of a government led by Saad Hariri, who has the majority of votes in parliament, as well as the mandate from Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
The Russian Foreign Ministry's statement noted that the two parties discussed the issue of Russian assistance to Lebanon in combating the coronavirus, including sending a batch of vaccines to Beirut. In this context, Lebanese Minister of Health Hamad Hasan intends to travel to Russia soon to secure a quantity of the Russian "Sputnik V" coronavirus vaccine, shortly after launching the country's vaccination campaign against the pandemic.
The National News Agency pointed out that the minister will soon visit Russia to negotiate the import of large quantities of the "Sputnik V" vaccine to Lebanon, following successful communications between Lebanon and Russia on this matter, which still require a government proposal to finalize.
On Sunday morning, Lebanon commenced its vaccination campaign with the "Pfizer/BioNTech" vaccine against the coronavirus, just hours after the first shipment of the vaccine arrived at Beirut International Airport. The vaccination process began at the Beirut Governmental Hospital, attended by caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Minister of Health Hamad Hasan. The first dose was administered to the esteemed Lebanese artist Salah Tizani, known as "Abu Salim."
Simultaneously with the vaccination at the Beirut Governmental Hospital, vaccination operations also commenced at Saint George's Hospital (the Greek Orthodox), the American University Hospital, and the Jesus the King Care Home in the capital Beirut. The Lebanese government clarified that vaccination priority for the coronavirus vaccine is given to the elderly, those with chronic diseases, and health sector workers. It is noteworthy that twenty-eight thousand doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived in Lebanon yesterday, with the second batch expected next week.
