Iraq is set to receive its first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine in early February.
The country struggled to contain the virus when it erupted last March, with cases reaching nearly 4,000 a day, and it has recorded more than 600,000 cases.
“Pfizer staff will train Iraqi healthcare workers upon delivery of the vaccine, which will be available at the beginning or middle of next month,” Riyadh Al Halfi, the Director General of Public Health at the Health Ministry, said in a statement to the state news agency.
Mr Al Halfi said the ministry has developed a plan that included providing coolers for the vaccine.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be stored at -70 degrees Celsius, a temperature far lower than standard freezers and which forced the company to develop special containers for transport.
Iraq is one of the hottest in the world and has a poor power generation network, with daily cuts to its mains supply.
The country has agreed to import 1.5 million doses of the vaccine.
Each person requires two doses, so the order will cover only 750,000 of Iraq’s 40 million people.
Iraq reported a remarkable reduction in Covid-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks, despite an increase in testing.
It has committed $170 million to be among the first countries to receive the vaccine, according to the World Health Organisation.
On Saturday, the health ministry warned the public it would consider imposing another nationwide curfew if infections increase for the next few days.
It said citizens are not following health regulations such as wearing masks in public and maintaining social distance.
"We are warning of an increase in cases, especially after the emergence of a new strain of the virus," the ministry said.
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Manchester United 2
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Rating: 4.5/5
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
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If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
