MoH begins to administer booster jabs for residents

Muscat: The immunization center at the old Muscat Airport building in Seeb has been witnessing a positive response by residents to take the booster or the third dose vaccine.

The center started receiving expatriates who wish to receive the second dose with prior appointment.

“It is necessary to register, book an appointment and get a confirmation via SMS before visiting the site,” the MOH said.

Registration can be done at https://covid19.moh.gov.om/#/home.

More details can be availed at the call center 1144. Timings are between 8 am and 2 pm.

As of last week, around 230,000 (citizens and residents) have not received any vaccination dose so far while four percent of the target group received the third and the booster dose.

A number of doctors underscored the significance of administering a third booster dose of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccinations to target segments of society—people aged 18 and above, at a time the virus’s mutant variant, Omicron, is rapidly spreading in different parts of the world in general, relatively in the Sultanate of Oman.

The physicians stressed the need to apply all precautionary measures, seriously and at all times.

Dr. Faryal al Lawati, Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Head of the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Royal Hospital, said, “There is an urgent need for a third booster dose, now that preliminary studies point to the probability that the efficiency of the first two doses might have dwindled to as low as 30%.”

Scientific studies proved that antibodies begin to decrease between the 5th or 6th month of Pfizer vaccination, and between the 4th and 5th month of AstraZeneca vaccination. It was initially hoped that T-cells would generate/trigger long-lasting immunological memory, even in the event of B-cell count deficiency, said Dr. Faryal.

She pointed out that, due to fresh infections among two-dose recipients in the aftermath of waves of new virus variants (among them Omicron), it has become clear now that time is ripe for a third booster dose to avoid a similar Covid-19 surge as in Europe.

Dr. Zaid al Khattab al Hinai, assistant Professor at the College of Medicine, and an infectious diseases consultant at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital said that the third dose augments the quantity and efficiency of antibodies capable of neutralizing Omicron, as was proven in lab tests. Field studies in more than one country showed that the booster dose offers protection against symptoms from 30 percent to 75 percent.