The Ministry of Health (MOH) is to launch today (Thursday) evening, Al-Muharram 8th, 1437 H, October 22nd, 2015, the Seasonal Flu Vaccination Campaign throughout the Kingdom. The first phase of the campaign is to be implemented at malls and shopping centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Taif, and to cover all regions of the Kingdom later.
This was announced by the MOH Spokesman, Mr. Faisal bin Saeed Al-Zahrani, who indicated that the campaign’s events are to be carried out under the supervision of health affairs general directorates all over the Kingdom’s regions and governorates; with a view to reaching all the targeted groups at their whereabouts.
“During the campaign, the Saudi society’s privacy will be taken into account,” stated Al-Zahrani, pointing out that two clinics (one for men and another for women) will run at each mall or shopping center. He added that the campaign offers free seasonal flu vaccination services to all citizens and residents in the Kingdom.
Al-Zahrani underlined that the events of this campaign are to kick off today, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and will last for ten days at Sahara Mall in Riyadh and Al-Jamea Plaza in Jeddah. "On the other hand", he said, “the events will be organized at Daree Mall in Dammam and Qalb Al-Taif Complex in Taif over the period from October 22nd to 31st, 2015."
It's worth mentioning here that the campaign targets staff of the health sectors, pregnant women, patients with chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiac diseases, thoracic diseases, etc.), children (from 6 months to 5 years), the elderly people and those in contact with any of the aforementioned groups. Studies have shown that flu vaccination curbs the spread of the infection amongst the community members and reduces the possibility of developing the acute complications of flu by 70% to 90%.
Seasonal flu is one of the infectious diseases that have health and economic impacts on the health system in any country. The annual recorded incidence of the disease is between 5 to 10% of adults and 30% of children. On the other hand, the number of the severe seasonal flu cases around the world amounts to 3 to 5 million cases, while the number of deaths due to the virus is about 250.000 to 500.000 people.
The flu vaccine provides the best protection against flu and its complications. It prevents the transmission of the disease from one person to another, as the vaccine is prepared each year to provide protection against three or four viruses that are likely to cause the disease during that year. Vaccination against flu is the most effective way to prevent flu or its severe side effects, and it can be given to any person aged six months and above.