AMMAN

Jordan on Wednesday began its vaccination campaign against the coronavirus pandemic, with healthcare workers and the elderly prioritized for the first shots.

Dr. Daoud Hanania, the country’s former director of medical services, became the first person to receive the injection in an event aired by state TV.

Health Minister Nazir Obeidat earlier said that the vaccination program will prioritize the most vulnerable groups including the elderly, those who suffer from chronic diseases, and medical personnel.

According to the Health Ministry, 29 centers across the kingdom will receive the vaccines.

The jabs arrived in Jordan on Saturday and Monday, starting with 3,800 tons of the Chinese Sinopharm virus vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech respectively, according to official media sources.

Jordanian health authorities have launched a platform to register those interested in receiving the vaccine.

The country’s tally of COVID-19 cases stood at 309,846 as of Tuesday, including 4,076 deaths and 292,104 recoveries.

*Ibrahim Mukhtar contributed to this report from Ankara