Algeria Allocates Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

 A health worker prepares to vaccinate an Algerian citizen in the capital on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Reuters)
A health worker prepares to vaccinate an Algerian citizen in the capital on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Reuters)
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Algeria Allocates Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

 A health worker prepares to vaccinate an Algerian citizen in the capital on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Reuters)
A health worker prepares to vaccinate an Algerian citizen in the capital on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Reuters)

Algeria announced launching mobile clinics to provide coronavirus vaccine shots to accelerate the rollout to inoculate its population.

A clinic in Kitani Square received up to 200 people on the first day of the campaign.

A doctor at one of the clinics, Dr. Hani, hailed the high turnout of the citizens, revealing that the campaign will continue until September.

“Algeria kicked off the campaign with Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, but it will also start using other vaccines including China’s Sinovac and the UK’s AstraZeneca.”

Another doctor said this campaign aims to attain herd immunity in the country and eliminate this health crisis.

One Algerian citizen said he went to the clinic to “protect” himself, and his family members, especially with the emergence of new variants of the virus.

Algeria has administered at least 2,500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs two doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 2.9 percent of the country’s population, Reuters reported.

Algeria has recorded a total of 131,647 infections and 3,537 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.



US Says Committed to 'Diplomatic Resolution' in Lebanon

FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
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US Says Committed to 'Diplomatic Resolution' in Lebanon

FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed that the United States was dedicated to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon and urged Israel to improve "dire" conditions in Gaza, in a call Saturday with his Israeli counterpart.

Austin "reiterated US commitment to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon that allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the border" in his call with Israel Katz, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

Austin also "urged the Government of Israel to continue to take steps to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and emphasized the US commitment to securing the release of all hostages, including US citizens."

Lebanon said Saturday that an Israeli air strike in the heart of Beirut that brought down a residential building and jolted residents across the city killed at least 11 people.

Israel stepped up its campaign against the Hezbollah militant group in late September, targeting its strongholds in Lebanon.

Lebanon's health ministry says at least 3,645 people have been killed since October 2023, when Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas.

The United Nations and others have repeatedly decried humanitarian conditions, particularly in northern Gaza, where Israel said Friday it had killed two commanders involved in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.

In the call with Katz, Austin also discussed ongoing Israeli operations and reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security," the Pentagon said.