Deputy Minister of Health explains when Saudi Arabia can ease lockdown measures

Hani Jokhdar, Deputy Minister for Public Health

COVID-19 herd immunity is forecast to exceed the required threshold in Saudi Arabia by end of Q3 2021, MBC TV reported, citing Deputy Minister for Public Health Hani Jokhdar.

“Here we can ease the pandemic lockdown measures,” Jokhdar said, adding that a higher herd immunity threshold can be developed by vaccinating a majority of the population, or if a large portion of the community gains immunity after contracting the infection.

“Around 500,000 people were vaccinated, based on the available quantities,” Jokhdar indicated, confirming that Saudi Arabia was receiving around 100,000 doses per week of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and quantities are set to increase gradually. Saudi Arabia is also in the process of attaining the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval on other vaccines, he noted.

Jokhdar confirmed that the Kingdom has enough quantities for the second shot of the vaccination campaign. He also stressed that precautionary measures should be maintained through social distancing and wearing face masks, indicating that people became more lenient in the application of these measures as vaccines are now available.