Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — An overwhelming majority of people aged 60 years or over has received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine in most parts of Saudi Arabia.

In a statement on Thursday carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said that the percentage of vaccinated people over the age of 60 in Hafar Al-Batin reached 98 percent followed by Al-Ahsa and Al-Qurayyat with 93 percent.

In Bisha, the percentage hit 86 percent and 83 percent in Riyadh, while the vaccinated elderly in the Eastern Region and Taif accounted for 80 percent.

According to the statement, the ministry has targeted the elderly in the first phase of the national vaccination campaign against the coronavirus.

The ministry has also launched a priority service, enabling all citizens and residents aged 75 years or older to rapidly get the COVID-19 vaccine by visiting the nearest vaccination center across all regions and governorates of the Kingdom without registration or prior appointments.

In the statement, the ministry called upon everyone to quickly register via the Sehatty application and get the COVID-19 vaccine, reiterating that the vaccines approved in Saudi Arabia are effective and safe.