Thursday 28 / November / 2024
Muscat: Expatriates coming to Oman who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 while overseas can upload their details on the Tarassud COVID monitoring app by visiting a dedicated counter at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.
With proof of vaccination mandatory to enter most public spaces, including restaurants, malls, shops and supermarkets, as well as government buildings and private companies, uploading a person’s vaccination details makes it far easier to access such areas.
“When you arrive at the designated car park for people who want to be vaccinated, tell the volunteers there that you have already been given both jabs, but need to register them on the app – they will guide you accordingly,” said Rehan Qadri, who came back to Oman just a couple of weeks ago.
Those who need to get their details updated need to go to counter number four, which is located in the same hall where mass vaccinations are taking place.
“The counter is located in a separate area of the hall, while vaccinations are taking place in another area,” said Sushant Singh, another recent returnee to Oman. “The entire process only takes a few minutes, unless there is a problem with your certificate.
“But once the people manning the booth have all your details, as well as the vaccine batch number, they have all the data required to update your vaccination status,” he said.
“There are plenty of volunteers inside who will be happy to help you, and if you follow the directions, you will be able to find the location very easily.”
The update is reflected in the app instantaneously, and those who wish to get it done need to come with a copy of their ID card and vaccination certificate. The process is free.
“It makes it easier now to enter malls and other areas, particularly if you are going with family,” said Qadri.
“Earlier, I used to show them a copy of the certificate I obtained when I was overseas, although nobody really questioned why it was different – what mattered to them is that I was vaccinated.
“Nevertheless, now it is on the app and that provides a bit more relief as I can access my vaccine status at any time,” he added.
COVID vaccines approved in Oman include Pfizer/BioNTech, Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Covishield/AstraZeneca, Sputnik, Moderna, and Sinovac. While all of these are two-shot vaccines, the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine has also been approved for use in the country.
