Saudi Arabia begins coronavirus vaccination campaign

RIYADH (AA) - Saudi Arabia on Thursday began a coronavirus vaccination campaign for citizens who wish to be vaccinated, local media reported.

Saudi Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah received a vaccine dose , according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

“This campaign is the largest vaccination operation in the Kingdom [...] The vaccine against coronavirus is safe and will not be compulsory but optional," Al-Riyadh daily quoted Al-Rabiah as saying.

On Wednesday, the Saudi health minister announced that the kingdom had received the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine.

The Health Ministry said the vaccine will be free of charge for all citizens and residents and that it is safe and effective.

As of Wednesday, Saudi Arabia recorded a total of 360,335 coronavirus cases, including 6,080 deaths, and 351,192 recoveries.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat