Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | Ramadan 8, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Don’t wait for a vaccine of personal choice

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Getting vaccinated with the available vaccine simply means shielding yourself against the pandemic in time, and reluctance to take the jab will only prove detrimental to self and society, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).


Registering on the site in the said format supplying the necessary information and getting vaccinated are something that any citizen or resident should do to get the preventive measure, it further said.


“Since the approval of Covid-19 vaccine many people were relieved and agreed to take it, however there remains a huge number of people who are reluctant to take the vaccine and this is known as vaccine hesitancy which is defined as the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite their availability’’, says Dr Hamed al Sinawi, Senior Consultant, Old age Psychiatrist, Department of Behavioural Medicine at the SQU.


There have been reports that there is a sense of reluctance among some people to get vaccinated with the available vaccines against Covid-19 and waiting for a jab of one’s own choice needs to be addressed.


“Vaccination in some areas is relatively slower than other governorates, and we see reluctance to take the vaccine’’, Said bin Ahmed Jaaboob, Director of the Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Medical Stores in Dhofar Health Centre said.


Dr Sinawi said several factors are behind this phenomenon: trust and confidence in the vaccine, not perceiving the need for vaccine and difficulty accessing the jab.


“Don’t wait for the Covid to strike; choose the available vaccine and stay protected. Don’t think that this is the last Covid vaccination that needs to be taken, whereas we may have to keep on taking booster doses till the virus ceases to exist. Please take the available vaccine at the earliest’’, says Dr Rohil Raghavan, Medical Director and CEO of Burjeel Hospitals.


As per the present vaccination drive, the Pfizer vaccine for expats is being distributed through corporate bookings and AstraZeneca is available directly from private hospitals as provided by the Ministry of Health.


“Several factors influence our motivation to a health-related behaviour’’, Dr Al Sinawi, who is also the Chairman of Oman’s Alzheimer’s Society and Oman’s Psychiatrist Society told the Observer.


According to medics, what’s deterring people from taking the vaccine is that they are more concerned over the risk of contracting Covid and if it (vaccine) would damage their health.


Dr Sinawi said people should be educated about the good things that could happen from taking the vaccine and what the barriers are and cost of getting the vaccine and what would prompt people to take up the vaccine need to be passed to them. These points should be explored in order to motivate people to take the vaccine.


“Reluctance to taking the vaccine and waning public confidence in vaccines due to rumours and conspiracy theories has been a major challenge for public health experts and policymakers worldwide’’, says Dr Viresh Chopra, Oman Dental College.


“Hesitation, spreading rumours of side effects, unawareness of the ground reality and fake news are few factors affecting public mentality and vaccine decisions. Therefore, social endorsement and efforts against hesitation regarding the Covid-19 vaccination are essential, especially in limited-resource settings. This will help promote vaccination and establish trust between the general population and health authorities and policymakers, leading to better control of the pandemic and a reduction of lives lost’’, he added.


The MoH representative further said that according to the currently available information, the vaccine would provide protection from the appearance of disease’s symptoms and complications.


IMMUNISATION IS PREVENTION


“Indeed, there is some kind of reluctance in taking the Covid vaccine in some sections of the society which is due to myths about the vaccines, its safety, and its efficiency’’, said Dr Dilip Singhvi Specialist, Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospital.


It’s quite common that most people will have mild fever post-vaccination and would not require hospital treatment but will disappear on its own.


“We need to make people aware of this fact and also the fact that the infection is still ongoing causing a lot of infections and fatalities’’, he adds.


There is currently no evidence to suggest that any of the vaccines already in use for other diseases can protect Covid-19. For example, the seasonal influenza vaccine is ineffective against the Covid-19 because this virus belongs to a different viral family not covered by the seasonal influenza vaccine.


“Immunisation is prevention in the longer run.”


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