OMAN TO START COVID-19 VACCINATION DRIVE TODAY

The Ministry of Health has drawn up a plan to distribute the vaccine at pre-determined locations across the country

MUSCAT: Oman’s vaccination drive against COVID-19 will begin today, following the arrival of the first consignment of vaccines in the country.

The first people to receive the vaccine will be frontline workers, those with chronic diseases, and the elderly, as they are considered the most vulnerable to the disease.

The vaccine, produced by American company Pfizer in collaboration with German firm BioNTech, will be administered in two doses, 21 days apart. It aims to stimulate the body’s immune system to produce antibodies to safely fight the virus.

The Ministry of Health has drawn up a plan to distribute the vaccine at pre-determined locations across the country’s 11 governorates.

The first consignment of vaccines consists of 15,600 doses, with a second batch expected to arrive by early January 2021. With the country aiming to vaccinate 60 per cent of people in the country, phase one will cover 20 per cent of the targeted population.

Individuals under the targeted vaccination groups are requested to come forward so they can be administered the vaccine. Awareness programmes educating people about the importance of being vaccinated will be run during the drive.