Syria’s health minister said on Thursday that they had received doses of COVID-19 vaccine from a “friendly country” days after reports surfaced that Israel had bought vaccines from Russia as part of a prisoner swap deal.
Hassan Ghabash said SANA health care workers would start receiving inoculations next week. He did not specify which country provided the vaccines or how many doses had arrived.
Media reports last week said Israel had agreed to fund the purchase of Russian vaccines for Syria, its long-term enemy, to ensure the release of an Israeli woman held there. after volunteering.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declined to comment on these reports. He also declined to comment on reports that Syria had received doses from a “friendly” country.
RDIF, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund with responsibility for Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine marketing abroad, has declined.
Health officials had said Syria was engaging with Russia and China on vaccines but bilateral agreements have not yet been announced.
China said earlier this month it would send 150,000 doses of vaccine to Syria in aid but a source told Reuters on Thursday that those had not yet been delivered.