Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday said that people aged over 65 as well as those with chronic ailments or at a high risk of infection will receive vaccine in the first stage of country's three-phased COVID-19 vaccination programme.

The vaccine would be "free for all citizens and residents," the official Saudi Press Agency said.

The kingdom has began registering citizens and foreign residents after approving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The ministry opened registration for the vaccination campaign through an online application called 'Sehaty.'

Those aged over 50 in the second,Everyone else will be vaccinated in the third stage, SPA said citing the health ministry.

The Gulf kingdom has a population of more than 34 million, according to official figures.

Saudi Arabia has so far recorded more than 360,000 novel coronavirus cases, including more than 6,000 deaths - the highest in the Gulf. But the kingdom has also reported a high recovery rate.

Last week, the kingdom approved the use of the vaccine developed by US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTec, becoming the second Gulf country after Bahrain to green-light the drug.