Health Ministry: Launch of seasonal vaccination campaign at 90 centers and hospitals

Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi launched the seasonal winter vaccination campaign, as part of the ministry’s efforts to enhance prevention against respiratory diseases and mitigate their complications. The campaign includes the seasonal influenza vaccine, along with recommended vaccinations to prevent pneumonia. Vaccines are available to citizens and residents at 90 health centers and hospitals distributed across various health regions.

The Ministry of Health emphasized the importance of receiving vaccinations, particularly for groups at higher risk of complications, including the elderly, children, individuals with chronic diseases, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems, as well as healthcare workers. It clarified that vaccinations help reduce the likelihood of infection, the severity of illness, and its complications, while also helping to limit cases requiring hospitalization.

In a related development, the Ministry of Health’s official spokesperson, Dr. Abdullah Al-Sand, announced the readiness of school health services to welcome the new academic year. This readiness is supported by an integrated system comprising 946 school clinics and 1,265 medical and nursing staff, aimed at ensuring a healthy and safe environment for students.

In a press statement, Al-Sand said that school health services cover government schools, religious education schools, and schools for students with special needs, in addition to eight school health centers within primary healthcare facilities. These centers include clinics for student examinations and rooms for opening health records and administering vaccinations, ensuring the continuity of preventive and health services provided to students.

He explained that the system includes 72 doctors and nurses distributed across various governorates, along with 1,193 nursing staff members, of whom 1,027 work in schools and 166 in school health centers. He added that the ministry ensures the qualification of medical and nursing teams during the summer period through necessary courses and training programs to enhance their competence in managing various health cases within the school environment, in accordance with approved procedures and protocols.