Riyadh- Mubasher: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) on Thursday approved the use and import of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The approval of the vaccine came based on the data provided to the SFDA and which was thoroughly reviewed as per an accurate scientific method. Hence, health authorities in the kingdom will begin procedures to use the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as per relevant standards and requirements.

The SFDA will analyse samples from every imported vaccine batch before use.

Last month, CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII), Adar Poonawalla, told Reuters that the world's biggest vaccine manufacturer will provide 3 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses to Saudi Arabia priced at $5.25 each on behalf of the British drugmaker.