Saudi Arabia kicks off COVID vaccination campaign

Saudi Arabia has kicked off its COVID-19 inoculation campaign, with the kingdom's health minister receiving the first dose a week after authorities approved the Pfizer vaccine.

Saudi Health Minister says the government is confident of the safety of the vaccine, vowing that all citizens in the biggest Gulf Arab state, with a population of 34 million people, would get injections free of charge.

Authorities said they would give priority to health workers, citizens and residents over 65 years old and those with underlying health conditions such as obesity in the first phase of the rollout.

The government did not specify how many shots had been received, but says it plans to inoculate at least 70% of the population by the end of next year. Although cases have declined in recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has struggled to contain a major coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 6,000 people.