Saudi Arabia is in negotiations with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine producers to provide supplies to low-income countries, including Yemen and some African countries, the Asharq website reported, quoting Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan.

During an online session of the World Economic Forum, Al-Jadaan said that these countries would not be able to obtain enough vaccines through the COVAX program alone, which is a global mechanism for purchasing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines. It aims to deliver at least 2 billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021 to cover 20 percent of the most vulnerable people in 91 countries.

It is estimated Africa will need 1.5 billion vaccine doses to immunize 60 percent of its 1.3 billion inhabitants, costing between $7 and $10 billion.