Lebanese Minister of Health in the caretaker government, Hamad Hasan, confirmed that the COVID-19 vaccine will be provided free of charge to all citizens and residents on Lebanese territory.
During a press conference to announce the national vaccination campaign, Hasan stated, "We have opened the door for vaccine registration from non-reference countries, and a committee will be formed to establish a mechanism and specific criteria to ensure quality, effectiveness, and safety." He added that the primary goal of the vaccination campaign is to reduce the spread of the virus and subsequently protect the most vulnerable groups.
Hasan revealed that 250,000 doses are expected to arrive in the first quarter of the year, starting from mid-February, stating that the objective of the plan is to achieve high vaccination levels within the community, reaching 80% during 2021. He also expressed hope that by March, the first dose from COVAX would arrive to complement the amount reserved from Pfizer arriving in February and March.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Bizri, during the announcement of the national vaccination campaign, mentioned that a specialized committee has been formed to monitor transparency regarding vaccination and that the committee will consider its feedback. He noted that there is also a specific committee to monitor prisons. Al-Bizri explained that a hotline would be established with various functions for citizens who cannot access the online platform. Regarding the importance of the platform, Al-Bizri stated, "It allows citizens to register either individually or sectorally, enabling us to proceed scientifically, and we will remind them of the first and second doses and how to report any side effects."
Al-Bizri added that the work was professional as all of Lebanon hopes to overcome this virus. "We have prioritized groups, but these priorities are not mandatory and depend on the number of vaccines available. We take into account protecting the healthcare sector, and we will try to protect the elderly first and then move to chronic diseases, along with other details present in the plan to include all segments of society."
He concluded his remarks by stating that the committee has not been asked to discriminate in terms of vaccinations and that the work is purely scientific, aiming to vaccinate 5.5 million people to achieve immunity that protects the entire community.
