The fact that vaccines are the only tool to fight the virus is evident from the Ministry of Health figures.
The Sultanate recorded an increase in deaths and new cases last week, and the virus took 64 lives.
As of Thursday, the hospitals had 746 inpatients, including 239 (18 in Salalah) in intensive care units.
More importantly, 6.8 percent or 14,401 active cases have not recovered and are under treatment, including 6,011 Omanis and 8,390 expatriates.
Most of these patients are in the age group of 15-59 with 13,503 cases, compared to 813 in the age group 60 years and above.
According to statistics, the total death toll is 2,303 deaths, which is 1.07 percent of the total cases recorded in the Sultanate.
More Omanis (1,688) compared to 615 non-Omanis lost their lives, and most of the victims (1,475) were in the age group 60 and above by cases. Also, 663 women lost lives against 1,630 men.
The governorate of Muscat has maximum deaths so far (727, including 271 in Seeb), followed by North Batinah (415, including 147 in Suhar), Dhofar (248, including 226 in Salalah), South Batinah (248, including 80 in Rustaq), Al Dhakhliyah (229, including 74 in Nizwa), South al Sharqiyah 145 (including 67 in Sur).
With a mass vaccination drive set to start next month, the Ministry of Health has stressed that vaccines are one of the most effective and safe means of preventing diseases.
Vaccines stimulate the body's immune system to produce antibodies, this kind of immunity known as (acquired immunity) and this method of obtaining immunity against the disease is more effective and safer than obtaining immunity by stimulating the immune system through getting the infection in what is known as (natural immunity).
The importance of taking a vaccine against Covid-19 is that it will reduce the disease burden among people in communities, reduce the number of people admitted in intensive care and reduce mortality, thereby reduce the pressure on the health care sector. In addition, it will gradually reduce the current measures such as physical distancing, closure of activities, travel restrictions and other preventive measures in preparation for the return of life to normal and recovery from the effects of the pandemic in various aspects of life.
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