With businesses and the economy, especially the travel and hospitality industry, keen to get back on track before the advent of another peak season, the focus is on the mega vaccination drive that will begin in June.
The urgency of the vaccination stems from the fact that the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 866 new cases and nine deaths on Wednesday. Ninety-one people were admitted to the hospital, bringing inpatients to 731, including 248 in intensive care units.
According to MoH, in the first phase, 30 percent of the target population will be vaccinated by the end of August 2021, while the second phase will cover another 40 percent of the targeted population.
Many private companies have started registering their employees for vaccination as part of the national efforts to combat the pandemic.
The ministries of Health and Education commenced vaccination of general education diploma students in all governorates of the Sultanate.
It is estimated that a total of 75,725 people will be vaccinated under this phase of the campaign.
In the Governorate of Muscat, vaccinating students began at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex apart from centres at Seeb, Muttrah, Bausher, Amerat, and Quriyat.
A total of 47 private schools with 2,230 students will also be vaccinated before their GED exams.
The Sultanate is expected to receive some 200,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine per week starting from June.
Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saeedi, Minister of Health, had confirmed that vaccine shipments would continue to arrive in the Sultanate, expressing hope that the vaccination rates will cross 35 per cent up from 30 per cent of citizens and residents by the end of August.
The mass vaccination drive will be conducted at centers in all governorates of the Sultanate, including the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center, sports complexes, and schools.
Mobile teams will be formed to immunize all workers in government institutions. The private sector can conduct the campaign through their in-house clinics or private health institutions.
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