Al-Qalam 
The
Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) on Thursday has approved the use and
importation of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.
The SFDA gave clearance for the administration of the jab based on data
provided by the manufacturers, but will test the vaccine once they receive the
shipments, state news agency SPA reported.
The authority uses a scientific process to approve vaccines based on safety and
efficacy results of clinical studies and other data provided by manufacturers,
the report added.
Saudi Arabia’s
Armed Forces also announced on Wednesday that they will be inoculating their
employees against the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Maj.
Gen. Mohammed Al-Balawi, deputy commander of the Saudi Air Defense Forces, held
a meeting to review the plans and initiatives.
Leaders from the Kingdom’s regions, air bases, fleets and other groups were in
attendance, along with a team from the Ministry of Defense’s temporary crisis
support cell for the coronavirus pandemic.
They urged employees to register their data through their units in the
ministry’s inoculation system and to continue to adhere to precautionary
measures.
The Kingdom launched its coronavirus vaccination campaign on Dec. 17, 2020
after receiving its first consignment of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine a day
before in an effort to control the outbreak.
Saudi Arabia is the second
country in the Gulf Cooperation Council, after Bahrain, to use the Pfizer-BioNTech
vaccine after it was approved by SFDA.
