Muscat: The national mass immunisation drive in the Sultanate will enter the new phase from Sunday as it includes youngsters (above 18) in the target group.
The new target group gains significance as the new variants have been affecting even the younger people, including children.
The Ministry of Health has urged people in the target group aged 18 and above to pre-book before going to the approved government centre for immunisation in the various governorates.
The national immunisation campaign has covered more than 900,000 people, according to ministry as of Thursday.
While according to an international tracker, 1,064,000 people have been vaccinated in the country till date, at the rate of 21 per 100.
Around 17 per cent of the population have received the first dose, while 4.3 per cent have received the second dose of vaccine.
The country aims to cover 30 per cent of the total population by the end of this month.
The timings at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) are from 8 am to 6 pm during weekdays and 9 am to 4 pm on weekends.
"Book your appointment through Tarassud+ app or http://covid19.moh.gov.om. You will receive an SMS with your appointment confirmation and a barcode to show when you arrive at the centre," the ministry has said.
The target groups have been urged to visit vaccine centres only after registration to avoid crowding at the venues.
Meanwhile, many expatriates and their family members, including children, have been getting vaccines through private hospitals, which also include prior registration.
Only Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children in the age group of 12 and above, which will be covered in the coming phases.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has clarified about audio messages to Covid-19 patients and anti-viral vaccines.
It confirmed that there is no need to conduct any tests before receiving the vaccines if the recipient does not have any symptoms of Covid-19 disease, and what was mentioned in the letter about the composition of the vaccine and that it increases the severity of the disease for those who received it is not true.
The ministry has reiterated that neither the PfizerBiotech or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines contain any Covid-19 virus, but rather viral components that activate the immune system to resist the virus when it enters the body. It said that spreading rumours and false information about Covid-19 vaccines harming the body may cause the death of innocent people.
The Ministry of Health called on everyone not to obtain information from non-specialists, but through the ministry's website and its accounts documented on social media platforms or through other official sources.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
