National survey on COVID-19 vaccines set to commence

Oman Monday 14/December/2020 21:07 PM
By: Times News Service
National survey on COVID-19 vaccines set to commence
The survey is being implemented by the Ministry of Health, represented by the Directorate General for Disease Surveillance and Control, in cooperation with the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

Muscat: A total of 3,000 Omanis and expats in the country have been selected at random to participate in the national COVID-19 vaccine survey, which begins today.

The survey has been launched to understand people’s attitudes and practices concerning COVID-19 and the associated vaccine.

The survey is being implemented by the Ministry of Health, represented by the Directorate General for Disease Surveillance and Control, in cooperation with the National Centre for Statistics and Information, and a number of other stakeholders.

These people will participate in the survey to limit the effects of incorrect information about epidemic by getting closer to and understanding society, enhancing the accuracy of information provided.

It aims to examine the knowledge members of the various communities in Oman have, pertaining to the vaccine, and how their attitudes are likely to be once it begins to be administered to people in Oman.

The questionnaire process will be conducted by organising a five-minute phone call with the concerned person, from the NCSI. A number of questions will be asked to the participants.

These questions are divided into a number of topics: some are related to general information about the participant, while others concern what he/she knows so far about the vaccine, its position, and the practices and attitudes towards it.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of Monday, December 14, 2020, there have been 126,504 cases recorded in the Sultanate. 118,287 of those who tested positive have recovered, reflecting a recovery rate of 93.5 per cent.

14 patients were admitted to hospitals in the last 24 hours, while a total of 57 patients remain in intensive care units in the country. A total of 122 patients with COVID-19 continue to remain in healthcare facilities in Oman. 1,472 people have sadly died from the disease.

The Ministry of Health, as part of its daily updates on COVID-19, continued to provide advice to people to bring down the rate of infection in Oman.

“Avoid group activities and gatherings, and wear a mask,” said the MOH. “Maintain a physical distance of at least two metres, and regularly and thoroughly wash hands with water and soap or clean them with a certified hand sanitiser.

“Avoid touching your face, nose, mouth and eyes, and avoid going out from home unless necessary,” added the ministry. “Follow healthy practices while sneezing or coughing, and adhere completely to isolation protocols if you show symptoms or have been in close contact with positive cases.”

“With our commitment to wearing masks and maintaining social and physical distancing, we will prevent ourselves, our families, and our community from the spread of the coronavirus,” the Ministry of Health went on to say.

There are 72,377,690 cases of COVID-19 around the world. More than 1.6 million people have died, and 46,360,708 have recovered.