Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman got the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, state media reported. This makes bin Salman one of the first world leaders to receive the vaccine after US President-elect Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the week.
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The country's Health Minister Dr Tawfiq al-Rabiah told Al Arabiya news channel, “Within the framework of Vision 2030, there is a policy of prevention is better than cure, which was represented by intensifying preventive measures, emphasising that human health is first, and providing safe and internationally approved vaccine in record time and providing it to citizens and residents.”
Saudi has reported 3,61, 903 COVID-19 positive cases and a total of 6,168 deaths. Saudi Arabia received shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pzifer and BioNTech earlier this month.
Following reports of a new strain of the coronavirus in the UK, Saudi has closed its land and sea borders.
While US Vice President Mike Pence and wife Karen Pence received COVID-19 vaccine, President Donald Trump and wife Melania Trump are yet to receive their shots.