The Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for Preventive Health, Dr. Abdullah Al-Assiri, revealed that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has secured this year 1.000.000 dozes of seasonal influenza vaccine, distributed by equal proportions between the governmental and private sectors. Furthermore, he indicated that all these vaccines are subject to quality control process by both the MOH and Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), meanwhile reiterating that the validity of these vaccines is under constant follow-up as they come into hospitals and health centers, given that these vaccines are seasonal, in the sense that they are produced without preservatives.
Within the same vein, Dr. Assiri underscored that “the seasonal influenza vaccines used in the Kingdom this year are safe and secure; they have been produced by companies other than the company that has been recently banned in Italy.
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry launched last month the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Campaign throughout the Kingdom, with the aim of vaccinating 500.000 of the persons at risk of developing acute complications when infected with the seasonal influenza virus. The Ministry, it is noteworthy, sets as its target vaccinating 75% of the categories highly prone to developing influenza complications annually by 2019. The Ministry is focusing this year on providing vaccination for the categories at risk, including staff of the health sector, pregnant women, and patients with chronic diseases.
Furthermore, the MOH's Influenza Vaccination Campaign has been developed in line with World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Action Plan (GAP) for influenza vaccines. It is a comprehensive strategic plan to reduce the current world shortage in the vaccines of the seasonal epidemic and pandemic influenza in all countries all over the world.
In addition, the Ministry organized last week a medical symposium on seasonal influenza; it was attended by more than 250 physicians and specialists from the public and private sectors working in Riyadh, with the aim of vaccinating 500.000 of the persons at high risk to developing the acute complications when infected with the seasonal influenza virus, in addition to health professionals.
Finally, the Ministry has called upon all citizens to keenly cooperate with the health professionals; in an endeavor to achieve the desired objectives of the aforesaid campaign, Allah Willing, which will contribute to maintaining the citizens' health and safety.