The government has stepped up efforts to prevent another wave of Covid-19 by expanding the target groups for booster vaccines.
On Monday, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 176 new cases, of which 14 are hospital inpatients, including three in Intensive Care Units.
The booster or the third dose is now available for residents aged 18 and above at the Old Muscat Airport building in Al Seeb.
Speaking to the Observer, an official at the Directorate General of Health Services in Muscat, said the response has been positive. It is necessary to register, book an appointment and get a confirmation via SMS before visiting the centre between 8 am and 2 pm on working days.
Both residents and citizens can provide full details via call centre 1144.
As of last week, around 230,000 (citizens and residents) were yet to receive any vaccination, while four per cent of the target group had got the booster or the third dose.
Boosters are available at the designated public healthcare centres in various governorates for citizens in the same target group. “Residents can also take booster vaccines from private healthcare centres by following necessary procedures.”
A resident informed the Observer, “We tried to register at the MoH website, but there was no slot until the end of this week. Hopefully, the rush will fade as more residents take their jabs.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has issued a clarification on reports that a citizen was asked to pay for eMushrif at the airport.
MoH said there had been no representative from eMushrif at border crossings since December 18, 2021, following the conclusion of the contract with the company. The citizen was instructed to pay for the PCR test like the rest of the travellers of the same flight whose tests were conducted more than 72 hours ago, in compliance with the decisions of the Supreme Committee. The citizen refused to follow this procedure and was asked to sign a written declaration about his refusal to conduct a PCR test. The Royal Oman Police is the authority to verify that incoming passengers at border crossing meet the entry requirements of the SC.
MoH has also refuted reports about the possibility of stopping Friday prayers and the post is related to the restrictions imposed by the Sultanate of Oman imposed in March 2020.
It denied reports that a citizen was administered the expired vaccine and urged everyone to confirm with official sources for verifying facts.
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