Vaccine Marathons Get Cancelled In Lebanon Due To Internet And Electricity Cuts

The AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine marathons scheduled for this weekend were pushed back due to internet and electricity cuts at vaccination centers, the Lebanese Vaccine Executive Committee announced on Friday.

Not only does this slow down the country’s vaccination process against COVID-19 but the announcement raised fears of doses being damaged in power outages. To ease people’s concerns, the head of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital (RHUH) Firass Abiad tweeted that the vaccines were completely safe.

The vaccines are safe. The refrigerators where they are stored are supported by two separate generators and a UPS with 8hrs capacity. The temperature is continuously monitored internally and externally. The vaccines are safe.

— Firass Abiad (@firassabiad) July 10, 2021

According to the Lebanese Vaccine Executive Committee, vaccination centers will operate as normal on Monday, and vaccination appointments scheduled for this weekend will be postponed to next weekend.

Following the statement, the head of Ogero, Imad Kreidieh, offered Ogero’s power generators to supply the RHUH with electricity next weekend.

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.