The electronic newspaper Al-Anbaa reported: As matters grow more complicated and the state of stagnation and obstruction worsens, with it the conditions of the Lebanese people deteriorating dramatically without discovering any vaccine for the political epidemic, the first batch of the vaccine designated for the coronavirus pandemic has arrived. Meanwhile, attention is directed towards the stance of the appointed Prime Minister Saad Hariri on the anniversary of the assassination of President Rafik Hariri, where he will deliver a televised speech at 4 PM today discussing the meanings of this memorial and how "some are attempting to kill martyr Rafik Hariri twice, by insisting on destroying all of his legacy, achievements, and the projects that would not have been realized without his determination to rebuild and establish the state with all its institutions." The speech will include a series of clear political messages.
According to sources from Beit Al-Wasat to Al-Anbaa, Hariri will address the obstacles he faced in the formation of the government from the team that is supposedly supposed to ensure the formation process according to the constitution, yet it is a team of obstruction and sharing that has taken the country, with all its current tragedies, as a hostage to achieve gains at the expense of the hunger and suffering of the Lebanese. The sources indicated that Hariri will address his recent meeting with President Michel Aoun, Aoun's reaction, and what was said by the political body of the Free Patriotic Movement, accusing him of wasting time in fruitless rounds and attempting to marginalize the role of the president.
Member of the Future Bloc, MP Bakr Al-Hujairi, harshly criticized the Free Patriotic Movement via Al-Anbaa, stating: "What we see today and hear from the Free Patriotic Movement and its current and previous president Michel Aoun reminds us of 1989, when Aoun would give speeches to his supporters claiming he would be the last person to leave the presidential palace. Yet, with the first shell that fell on the palace, he was at the French embassy. Today, he wants to tell us that he is the one who forms the government, not the French or the American, and that he does not want Saad Hariri at the helm of the government because he does not meet his or his son-in-law Gibran Bassil's taste. Additionally, Aoun wants to burn everything achieved on the occasion of the anniversary of the assassination of President Rafik Hariri," considering this "the first time in the history of presidents that there is a head of state who sees no one but Saad Hariri as the heir to Rafik Hariri. Since they see the country heading towards ruin under their rule, they desire to form the government according to their taste, not based on Saad Hariri."
Al-Hujairi denied any possibility of Hariri's resignation, affirming that the premiership is "the natural position for President Saad Hariri, as he is supported by 65 deputies and represents the third position in authority. To whom would he resign, to 'Beit El-Kull' or his son-in-law? Saad Hariri has not wronged the country. All he wants is to return the country to what it was during Rafik Hariri's days. However, Aoun's coming and his participation in power have paralyzed the country for eight years and delivered a hellish forecast to the Lebanese, he is the one who should apologize to the Lebanese people."
Amid this political escalation, a glimmer of hope emerged with the arrival of the first batch of coronavirus vaccines, which prioritized the medical and nursing team and paramedics, with additional batches expected weekly. Head of the Parliamentary Health Committee, MP Assem Araji, confirmed in a statement to Al-Anbaa that "there is no fear of delays in later vaccine batches, as the company has given us an unwavering promise for weekly deliveries. An estimated 600,000 vaccines are expected to arrive over the next six weeks from Pfizer. Starting March 1, the AstraZeneca vaccine will also arrive with an estimated 300,000 doses in batches, and there are attempts to obtain the Russian 'Sputnik' vaccine." He noted that the aim at this first stage is to vaccinate 300,000 individuals.
Regarding public hesitation to register on the vaccine platforms, Araji anticipated that registration numbers would significantly increase within a week of the vaccination process starting and the absence of health reactions in those vaccinated. He mentioned that fears stemming from social media had scared the people, but once side effects do not appear, concerns will dissipate, and the vaccination process will proceed normally, indicating that over 1 billion people worldwide have received the vaccine.
Araji, despite the initiation of the vaccination process, urged strict adherence to preventive measures and not to underestimate safety precautions to ensure everyone’s safety, as 80% of residents need to be vaccinated for safety.
For its part, sources from the Ministry of Health informed Al-Anbaa that the vaccination operations would commence today in three hospitals: Rafik Hariri University Hospital, the American University of Beirut, and the St. George Hospital, covering medical staff, nurses, and seniors aged 80 and above.
Additionally, Dr. Pierre Abihna, an infectious disease specialist at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, predicted that the morale of the Lebanese would rise with the arrival of the vaccine, noting that people would no longer risk their health, as vaccination is the only way out of the pandemic. He urged all residents in Lebanon to register on the platform as getting vaccinated guarantees them protection from COVID-19 and prevents hospitalization and intensive care unit admissions, stressing that they do not want to lose loved ones. He called for people, especially seniors, to register without hesitation, emphasizing that protecting them is a national duty, and everyone must protect themselves and their loved ones.
