Under the theme: “Immunization Is the Responsibility of All”, His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah is inaugurating the National Immunization Week 2012 on April 24th, 2012. The inauguration ceremony will be held at the MOH Auditorium, at 10.00 am.
The MOH Spokesperson, Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Merghalani, pointed out that this ceremony comes within the framework of the Ministry's effective role in preserving the Saudi people's health and safety. That's why the Ministry has been always showing keen interest in the Immunization Program, and regarded vaccination as an integral and essential part of healthcare programs. This should come as no surprise, given the fact that the Kingdom was one of the first countries which adopted substantial immunization programs and managed to achieve considerable accomplishments in this domain. To date, about 97% of citizens are covered by the immunization umbrella. The Ministry has also managed to eradicate polio, and declared that the Kingdom has become completely free of the disease. It is now on its way to the eradication of measles, rubella and mumps.
Dr. Merghalani added, “The MOH Immunization Program seeks to protect the Saudi children, and all people, against the diseases targeted by vaccination, and maintain the Kingdom free from polio and neonatal tetanus, as well as eradicating of measles, rubella and mumps, and reducing the incidence of the remaining diseases targeted by immunization.”
Concluding his announcement, Dr. Merghalani called upon parents, and all the society members, to take part in carrying the National Immunization Week to success, thereby achieving its objectives, most notably is the protection of children of diseases.