'Health': Expansion of Seasonal Vaccinations in Centers by 100%

Dr. Dina Al-Dabib, Director of the Central Administration for Primary Health Care, announced that the Ministry of Health has expanded its seasonal vaccination services by up to 100 percent, adding 43 new preventive health centers. This brings the total number of centers dedicated to providing vaccinations to approximately 85 health centers distributed across various health regions.

In a television interview, Al-Dabib clarified that the ministry is preparing an additional 13 centers, raising the total targeted number to around 98 centers. This expansion aims to enhance service coverage, bring services closer to residential areas, and facilitate access to seasonal vaccinations and adult immunizations for citizens and residents, thereby increasing vaccination coverage rates.

For her part, Dr. Shaima Al-Faris, a family medicine consultant and head of the Hamoudi Al-Sidraoui Health Center in the Capital Health Region, emphasized that the ministry places special importance on the elderly population. It is working to develop health services tailored to their specific needs and the demographic composition of different areas.

Speaking to Al-Jarida, Al-Faris noted that the center’s geographic coverage includes the Shuwaikh and Granada residential areas. She highlighted the shift toward developing home care services by organizing proactive and exploratory visits to the elderly, without waiting for requests from patients or their families. The goal is to assess their health conditions, identify their needs, and determine appropriate services for each case.

She added that these services include periodic examinations for early cancer detection, monitoring of chronic diseases, mental health screenings, and assessments of the suitability of the elderly person’s living environment for their needs, as well as identifying their caregivers.

Al-Faris pointed out that the team currently conducts home visits based on patient needs and requests, scheduled in advance through three channels: the Sahol or Salem apps, or by submitting a request at the health center. Meanwhile, exploratory visits are organized by selecting random cases based on available statistics, with prior telephone contact made with patients or their families to inform them of the visit, in coordination with the Ministry of Health’s elderly care team.