The General Manager of Rafic Hariri University Hospital, Firas Abiad, tweeted today: “Soon,  the Oxford’s AstraZeneca  vaccine will arrive to Lebanon, while the Pfizer vaccine is currently being provided to citizens.”

He added, “Yesterday, the Ministry of Public Health issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the Chinese Coronavirus vaccine Sinopharm, and Sputnik’s vaccine will also arrive.”

Abiad added that it is good to receive large quantities of the vaccine, but there are still other issues that should be taken into consideration, which is logistics, fair distribution, the role of the private sector, and the priorities in inoculating citizens. Abiad asked whether people who have the financial ability will be able to get inoculated before the poor ones. “Can we launch the vaccine rapidly to ensure a safe open of the economy and schools, and should we be optimistic?”  he added.

“The process will not be glory as much as expected or hoped, but definitely, we should not be pessimistic,” Abiad said. He added that vaccines would save the lives of the citizens, and the situation would improve when more people get vaccinated.

Abiad emphasized that spreading the vaccine will not be enough, therefore applying the safety and preventive measures will remain necessary. ”