Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

A shield against measles

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The objective of the National Measles Immunisation Campaign is to cover at least 95 per cent of the targeted age group of 20 to 35, according to the Ministry of Health. The second phase conducted in coordination with other authorities, which concluded on Friday included all of the Sultanate’s governorates except Dhofar and Al Wusta. There were camps set in all prominent locations such as Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, shopping malls, populated areas of districts as well as remote areas and even five star hotels.


A staff nurse from Yiti Health Centre, Badriya al Jabri said the campaign was a great experience because it took her to remote places such as Jabal Aswad in Qurayat, Muscat Governorate where people prefer to live in the harsh environment.


“We went there in a helicopter,” she said excitedly. “The food and water is supplied by the government regularly by helicopter. We ensured the citizens there also received the vaccination.”


The measles vaccine was made available to citizens and residents in the authorised public and private health institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Health and other institutions such as the military and security authorities, Diwan of Royal Court and the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital as well as a number of private sector health establishments.


The national authorities chose to vaccinate 20 to 35 age group of persons because of most cases in the last two years are noted in the same age group. Findings of research among representative groups in Oman are suggesting immunity levels are less in the said age group.


Nurse Sultan al Nabhani, stationed at immunisation camp in Al Hamriya said, “The first day our team vaccinated around 300 individuals, by Monday it shot up to 800 and followed by 1,000 individuals the next day. The weekend we had already expecting more.”


Meanwhile another staff nurse from Ministry of Health said, “I have been to various sites and the highest I saw was in Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque because in two hours we covered 500 individuals.”


The staff was quick to advice, “Ensure all children are protected by routine Measles vaccination at 12 months and 18 months of age through MMR vaccine, made available in Oman for citizens and residents.”


They also said if they do not reach the targeted percentage the campaign might extend for another week. (Oman Daily Observer’s video on the campaign can be viewed @omanobserver facebook page)


Lakshmi Kothaneth


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