Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Ministry of Health announced on Thursday about postponement of dates for administering the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine for those who have a prior appointment.

In a statement on its Twitter account, the ministry spokesman said the new appointment can be known through the text message sent to the applicants or through the ministry’s Sehhaty application.

“If you have an appointment for the second dose and you do not receive a text message to change the date of appointment, you have to come to the vaccination center on the appointment date as shown in the Sehhaty app to receive the vaccine jab,” the spokesman added.

It is noteworthy that the ministry announced on Wednesday the rescheduling of coronavirus vaccine administration for those who have obtained the appointment for receiving the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

The ministry attributed this to the manufacturer’s delay in supplying the vaccine to the Kingdom.

The ministry statement said that Pfizer company has delayed the supply of the vaccine to all countries, including Saudi Arabia, to where it is exporting the vaccine as the company is upgrading the production capacity.

Saudi Arabia started the registration for receiving the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 15 following the approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

Subsequently, the Kingdom started the nationwide vaccination campaign on Dec. 17, by opening the first vaccination center in Riyadh.

Vaccination centers were opened in other major cities of Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah later. The fifth center will be opened in Makkah this week.