Saudi Arabia adds Sinopharm, Sinovac to list of approved vaccines; booster after Chinese jabs mandatory

E-Paper | October 02, 2026

Saudi Arabia adds Sinopharm, Sinovac to list of approved vaccines; booster after Chinese jabs mandatory

Dawn.com Published August 25, 2021

Doses of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine against the coronavirus disease are seen at the Biblioteka kod Milutina restaurant in Kragujevac, Serbia. — Reuters/File

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Saudi Arabia has added the Sinopharm and Sinovac Covid-19 jabs to its list of approved vaccines, taking the total number to six, it emerged on Wednesday.

According to the Saudi Gazette, the Ministry of Health announced that there are a total of six approved vaccines in the Kingdom; Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BionTech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.

“In the event of giving approval to any other vaccines, it will be announced at the time through the official channels approved by the Ministry of Health and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority,” the report quoted the ministry as saying.

It added that according to the ministry, there was a possibility regarding accepting the vaccination of those who had received two doses of the said Chinese vaccines, provided that they had received a booster dose of one of the other approved vaccines.

Saudi Arabia has also eased Covid-19 restrictions for fully vaccinated residents, allowing them to directly travel to the Kingdom from countries facing a travel ban, including Pakistan.

According to a report by the Saudi Gazette, it is only applicable for those who have a valid residency permit (Iqama) and left the Kingdom on an exit and re-entry visa after taking two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from Saudi Arabia.

Currently, the countries facing the travel ban are India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Lebanon, the report said.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Aug 25, 2021 03:08pm

What other options have they got at this crucial, critical, carping, compelling and caviling juncture in time and history?

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bhaRAT©

Aug 25, 2021 03:14pm

Bharat Biotech’s dodgy Covaxin not on the list?

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bhaRAT©

Aug 25, 2021 03:16pm

To date, WHO has not approved made-in-India Covaxin

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funnyman

Aug 25, 2021 03:34pm

Booster shot of different brands Highly discouraged by WHO, no scientific backing of the concept from US FDA, CDC, WHO, UK's NHS or even Saudi FDA But yes, lets demand booster shots. Typical Saudis. Maybe if thier fratricidal leaders spent more time and money on scientific research instead of chopping up journalists inside embassies and move the dead body parts in suitcases, things could be better

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Jalbani Baloch

Aug 25, 2021 03:42pm

There should have been no condition of booster since two Chinese Vaccines have been approved by the WHO. If booster is made mandatory requirement, it is suggested that IQAMA holders must be administered booster in S. Arabia and not in Pakistan, as health practitioners suggest that booster should be administered six months after taking the second dose of vaccine. S. Authorities may arrange for booster on payment basis after taking into consideration the date of second dose of vaccine.

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Jhanzeb

Aug 25, 2021 03:50pm

But boosters have not yet been administered around the world. So not sure how one could be expected to get a shot in Pakistan after getting Sinovac/Sinopharm

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Tariq Raza

Aug 25, 2021 04:59pm

Pointless as the Chinese vaccines require validation through a booster of one of the 4 Western vaccines. Why would anyone go for Chinese vaccine if Western vaccines were available to begin with?

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LAHORI KID

Aug 25, 2021 05:14pm

How does this news effect Pakistan in any shape or firm ?

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Oneliner

Aug 25, 2021 06:01pm

Pakistani have not performed UMRA for a year and half consider travel for this sector

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Cardiac Arrest

Aug 25, 2021 06:55pm

@LAHORI KID, Pakistan media thinks it is a massive victory for Pakistan.

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ANS

Aug 25, 2021 06:59pm

That means Saudi is not approving China vaccines unconditionally due to Western pressure. Sad

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dubious

Aug 25, 2021 07:59pm

@ANS, "That means Saudi is not approving China vaccines unconditionally due to Western pressure. Sad" Why would the West care about Saudi Arabia Covid policy? The real issue is that Chinese vaccine has about half the efficacy of Western vaccine and Saudi's have enough money to purchase the more expensive vaccine.

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yamulla

Aug 25, 2021 09:03pm

Sinos are ok as long as you get Pfizer booster shot, and how the hell one gonna get Pfizer shot if the country or half of the Asia is only administering sinovac or sinopharm ? sounds so irrational

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akbar

Aug 25, 2021 09:54pm

India should donate its Astrozenca vaccines to Pakistan so that the condition of third booster dose is met.. else it doesnt help pakistanis even if they have already taken the two Chinese Vaccines.

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Zak

Aug 26, 2021 04:58am

Mixing vaccines is not good as per WHO report. Third Booster shot has to be same as first and second jabs.

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Uzair

Aug 26, 2021 09:04am

If those vaccines were no good, then a booster with a different vaccine would be as good as only the first dose of that vaccine. Clearly a politically motivated policy. If for example they were accepting sinopharm, and they wanted a third booster, that policy would have been in line with the principle of recognizing it and thus consistent. This policy basically say, "We think it works, but still get the other one"

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Anonymouseee

Aug 26, 2021 09:10am

This Indian virus has proven to be deadly.

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