Vaccines are a major weapon in the fight against Covid-19, offering effective protection against even highly contagious strains such as the Delta variant. They can flatten the curve provided the population is fully vaccinated.
Brushing aside the doubts about the safety of the vaccines, Dr Zakariya al Balushi, Infectious Disease Consultant at Royal Hospital, said that the vaccine prevents infection. He said, “the infection among the vaccinated is very much less compared to others. Besides, the vaccine definitely reduces the risk of infection and studies proved that protection provided by the vaccine is stronger than the immunity that comes after the infection.”
Taking polio drops as an example, Dr Zakariya explained that before the discovery of polio vaccination, many patients throughout their lives depended on prosthetic legs. “There is no cure for the polio virus, yet it has been controlled by the vaccine for many years,” he said.
The Supreme Committee last Thursday said vaccination is a must to enter government and private establishments in Oman from September 1. It is also a condition to enter shopping malls, restaurants as well as to attend cultural, sports, group events. Heads of government and private units must take the necessary measures to implement these decisions, a statement from the committee said.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases in the Sultanate have been witnessing a fall in recent weeks the vaccine campaign targeting 70 per cent of the population is gathering pace.
The Ministry of Health on Sunday reported 385 new cases with 11 people succumbing to the infection in the last 72 hours. With this number, the total number of cases registered in the Sultanate reached 301,299, including 4,031 deaths. Patients admitted to hospitals also dropped to 183 including 89 in intensive care units.
