The Directorate General for Disease Surveillance and Control at the Ministry of Health (MOH) represented by the department of Communicable Diseases Control organized today (Thursday) a workshop at the Grand Millennium Hotel to train workers involved in Immunizations program and infectious control departments on the updates in the vaccination schedule for children as well pilgrims and travelers.

The workshop held following the Ministry’s approval on the integration of  Hepatitis A vaccine in the routine childhood vaccination schemes; administering the first dose at a 13-month age of a baby, applicable from January 2020. Participants are trained on vaccine administration and storing methods, in addition to documentation in the Child Health Card and Registry.

Furthermore, the Ministry has approved to replace the Meningitis vaccine with a more highly effective vaccine, which provides five-year immunity period instead of three years.  The vaccine is given to the pilgrims, endemic countries’ travelers, and some other targeted categories.

The workshop was attended by more than 120 participants including directors of the Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control Departments, immunization programs supervisors and immunization clinic officials at the Ministry's primary health care institutions from all governorates of the Sultanate, and from other governmental health institutions such as Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Royal Oman Police Hospital, Armed Forces Hospital and Services, Diwan of Royal Court in addition to participants from some institutions of the private health sector.

The Ministry of Health is seeking to update immunization programs as a result of developments supplied by the of the burden of disease studies’ findings.

Remarkably, the coverage rate of most vaccines in the Sultanate reached 99% due to of community awareness and their interest in vaccinating their children on the dates specified, above the positive role played by health personnel in raising awareness of community members.