On Monday evening, the Presidency’s press office announced that Lebanese President Michel Aoun will be receiving the COVID-19 vaccine afterall.
The official statement was made after local media, citing Al-Joumhouria, reported that Aoun refused to take the vaccine.
Adding to Aoun’s family TV’s broadcast against the COVID-19 vaccine, this caused a stir on social media, with many people concerned that his refusal to take the vaccine indicates the state’s mistrust in the vaccine it has purchased and it will influence the decision of Aoun‘s supporters.
In similar news, Aoun‘s ally Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah opposed taking what he called the “American vaccine,” stating he was open to the recommendation of his own trusted health experts.
However, Health Minister Hamad Hassan, who is Hezbollah‘s appointee, urged people to trust the government’s vaccination plan, which is based on trustworthy medical information.
Minister Hassan has announced that Lebanon is due to receive 2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine in mid-February and intends to implement the vaccination, starting with the most vulnerable population.
We have a dedicated coronavirus section where you can find the latest news/updates about the pandemic in Lebanon, inform yourself with WHO-verified resources, and track the number of cases in Lebanon in real-time. Click here.
