KUWAIT CITY, Dec 23, (Agencies): The Director of Public Health Department Dr. Fahad Al-Qimlas announced Wednesday the Ministry’s readiness to receive everyone to take the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, as it has a wellplaced plan to approve vaccination centers, namely halls number five and six at Kuwait International Fair (KIF) grounds, as well as two additional centers in Al-Ahmadi and Al-Jahra governorates. Al-Qimlas added in remarks to the media, that people desiring to receive COVID-19 vaccinations have to register their requests electronically to facilitate the process of their entrance to the centers, and to approve their reservations, as the Ministry is ready to receive thousands daily. Al-Qimlas made his remarks on the sidelines of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Council of Ministers Affairs at the vaccination hall earlier at KIF.

Accurate
Al-Qimlas called on people questioning the credibility of the vaccine activeness to avoid the spread of rumors, and to take accurate information from its trusted sources, and from specialized people who are thoroughly looking at the studies on the activeness of the vaccine.

The official noted medical cadres are fully in charge and prepared in the vaccination centers, as they are capable to receive all registered people requiring taking the vaccine, calling on everyone to immediately register via the electronic website.

The storing of the COVID-19 vaccines are conducted upon the instructions and regulations of the Ministry’s medical stores department, as the vaccine quantities are enough and covering the need of all demands. The launch of the COVID-19 vaccine will begin Thursday, December 24, with the elderly and first frontline workers receiving the jab, said Minister of Health Sheikh Dr. Basel Al-Sabah Wednesday.

During an inspection with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh of Hall-5 at MIshref area’s International Fairs Ground, Sheikh Dr. Basel delivered a statement indicating that the vaccine would arrive on a monthly basis in Kuwait for a period of a year. He affirmed that the ministry was keen on delivering the vaccine to people nationwide. The minister thanked the medical cadres, technicians, and experts for their around-the-clock efforts in the previous months, saying that it resulted in the logistical success of delivering the vaccine to Kuwait.

Eradicate
Sheikh Dr. Basel said that Kuwait will now begin a new phase of vaccination and hopefully beating the virus, adding that it was important to eradicate the COVID-19 rather than focus bringing the number of infections down.

He affirmed that herd immunity could only be achieved through the vaccination campaign. On his part, Minister Anas Al-Saleh revealed that His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah will the first to receive the jab followed by those registering in the vaccination campaign online.

Al-Saleh expressed pride in the preparation for the campaign, thanking the Minister of Health and all the members of the ministry for their efforts. He added that members of the Interior Ministry, Kuwait Fire Force (KFF), and related bodies would do their best to facilitate the campaign’s success. The first shipment of the COVID- 19 vaccine arrived at dawn today (Wednesday) as 73,700 people have registered their names on Ministry of Health website — those wishing to receive the vaccine so far, and the number of those registering is increasing. Sheikh Dr. Basel, said in a press statement that yesterday the ministry has determined or rather shortlisted those who will be given the COVID-19 vaccine during what the ministry called four stages — includes all health care providers, those older than 65 years and workers in the first rows, and the remaining stages include all members and groups of society.

However, informed sources told the Al-Seyassah daily, that the Ministry of Health has mobilized its sectors to train and provide the necessary medical and technical personnel to work at the vaccination centers, and has requested the directors of health districts and public hospitals to provide 500 nurses, doctors and health inspectors to work at these centers.