The World Health Organization (WHO) said Saturday it will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines in Syria’s northeastern region, mainly to the Autonomous Administration that holds Hasaka, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor that are outside government control.
Co-chair of the Health Body in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Dr. Joan Mustafa, told Asharq Al-Awsat that 23,000 doses of vaccines had already arrived to the region through the COVAX mechanism.
They include 13,200 doses for Hasaka, 4,000 for Deir Ezzor and 6,000 for Raqqa.
“The new batch of vaccines aims to cover frontline health care workers,” Mustafa said.
As of last Thursday, 1,150 health workers and a few residents have been inoculated at Al-Louloua government hospital.
The Autonomous Administration reported five COVID-19 related deaths in areas under its control and 54 confirmed cases, bringing the total to 18,247, including 749 deaths.
In Raqqa, co-chair of the Health Committee of the Civil Council, Zeina al-Hassan, said three categories will benefit from the vaccination campaign: health workers, people those over 55 years in age, and those suffering from chronic diseases.
The WHO Country Office in Syria said it will provide logistical support to mobile vaccination teams in the region to ensure wider coverage and equitable access to the vaccines.
Last April, Syria received the first batch of vaccines, which were allocated to frontline health workers, including health workers in northeast Syria.
Akjemal Magtymova, Head of Office and WHO Representative in Syria, said the agency aims to make vaccines available throughout the country with the aim to cover 20 percent of the population by end of 2021.
