Sunday 19 / May / 2024
Muscat: People aged 65 and above will today begin receiving their doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as part of the first phase of Oman’s national vaccination campaign.
Doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been distributed to health centres in the country, and the Ministry of Health has asked people included in the list of vaccine recipients to come forward when called upon.
The ministry, in cooperation with local health authorities, has also listed the timings of the health centres where vaccinations are taking place.
People are requested to keep the operating hours of centres in mind when they go for vaccination.
Ten clinics in Muscat Governorate have been earmarked as vaccine centres.
In Wilayat Seeb, Hayy Al Jama’a health centre is open from 7:30 am to 8:30 am on weekdays, and between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm on weekends and public holidays.
The Maabela and Al Shadi health centres will also follow the same timing, but the one in North Al Mawaleh will only offer vaccines between 7:30 am and 2 pm from Sunday to Thursday.
In Wilayat Bausher, the health centres of Bausher and North Al Khuwair will function from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm on weekdays, and from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on weekends, while Al Azaiba health centre will only run from 7:30 am to 2 pm.
Locals and expatriates aged above 65 living in Wilayat Muttrah need to report to Ruwi health centre, which will also run from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm on weekdays, and between 9:30 am and 3:30 pm on weekends, or the one in Wattayah, which will distribute vaccine doses between 7:30 am and 2 pm, from Sunday to Thursday.
In Wilayat Muscat, the Muscat health centre is operational between 7:30 am and 8:30 pm on weekdays, and from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on weekends.
Adding to this, a statement from the Directorate General of Health Services of the North Al Batinah Governorate said, “COVID-19 vaccination locations in North Al Batinah Governorate, will begin operations on Sunday, February 7, for the target groups of Omanis and expatriates aged 65 and above.”
Nine vaccination sites have been set up in North Al Batinah: Sohar health complex (7 am to 8 pm) and Falaj Al Qabail health centre (7:30 am to 2 pm) in Wilayat Sohar, Saham health complex (7 am to 8 pm) and Al Ghawaisah health centre (7:30 am to 2 pm) in Wilayat Saham, and Suwaiq health complex (7 am to 8 pm) and Al Khadra health centre (7:30 am to 2 pm) are all operational.
One clinic apiece have been assigned as vaccine sites in three other parts of the governorate. These include Al Khabourah health complex in the Wilayat of Khabourah, Liwa health centre in the Wilayat of Liwa, and Shinas health complex in Wilayat Shinas. All three are operational from 7 am to 8 pm.
A similar advisory was provided by the DG of Health Services in South Al Batinah, which said, “The presently distributed AstraZeneca vaccine will not include people who have received the first dose of Pfizer, as their second dose will be announced at a later time.”
Health complexes in Rustaq, Al Musannah and Barka will all run from 7 am to 8 pm, while health centres in Nakhal, Wadi Al Maawil and Al Awabi will operate between 7:30 am and 2:30 pm.
Ahead of the latest stage of the vaccine drive, the Ministry of Health conducted a training course for healthcare representatives from each of Oman’s 11 governorates, which focused on the procedures frontline workers needed to follow while adhering to the vaccine, including hygiene measures and social distancing precautions.
On returning to their respective governorates, these healthcare representatives will instruct other frontline workers on the procedures that need to be followed while inoculating vaccine recipients.
In the southern Dhofar Governorate, all health centres offering the vaccine will work from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays, and 10 am to 4 pm on weekends and public holidays.
Vaccines will be given to people in the health centres of Dhalkut, Mirbat, Sadah, the Hallaniyat Islands, Rakhyut, Thumrait, Maqshin, Taqah, and Al Mazyona.
In the city of Salalah, a number of medical centres will offer the vaccine: they include Sultan Qaboos Hospital, Dhahariz health centre, New Salalah health centre, Saada health centre, Awqad health centre, West Salalah health centre.
With the exception of the ones in Awqad, West Salalah and Saada, which will run from 8 am to 8pm the rest will operate between 8 am and 2 pm on weekdays.
The health centres in Dhahariz, Saada, Awqad, and West Salalah, as well as the New Salalah health centre will also offer vaccines between 10 am and 4 pm on weekends.
