WIDE-SCALE IMMUNISATION IN JUNE, SAYS HEALTH MINISTER

More than 1mn doses of vaccines will arrive in the sultanate by June and the number of vaccinated persons by the end of June is expected to reach 1.5mn

Muscat - Wide-scale immunisation is expected to be rolled out in June with the target segment extended to people over 45 years and vital sectors such as security, logistics and education.

Vaccination centres will be opened in all governorates, with schools and sports complexes to be turned into mass immunisation centres. A centre will also be opened at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The ministerial team in charge of immunisation against COVID-19 held its first meeting at the Ministry of Health (MoH) on Thursday.

The meeting dealt with the COVID-19 National Immunisation Strategy, which aims at cutting down the number of infected persons, related deaths and the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic.

During the meeting, it was revealed that the sultanate will receive 1mn doses of PfizerBioNTech doses, in addition to 100,000 doses from other companies during the month of June. The number of vaccinated persons by the end of June is expected to reach 1.5mn.

The target segment include those aged above 45 years, pilgrims, citizens in Musandam and frontline workers at health institutions, government establishments, the Royal Oman Police, the Sultan’s Armed Forces, higher education institutions, educational and teaching staff, Grade 12 students and people operating in vital sectors like the oil and gas sector, ports, airports and some private sector establishments.

The COVID-19 vaccines will also be provided to private sector establishments through clinics of big companies and licensed private health establishments.

At the meeting, H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Sa’eedi, Minister of Health, informed that more than 4.37mn doses of Pfizer-BioNTech jabs were booked, along with more than 1.5mn doses reserved via the Global Alliance of Vaccines and Immunization.