The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) today launched a national vaccination drive to administer seasonal flu vaccines to senior citizens at their own homes instead of hospitals and health centres to safeguard their health and safety and provide them with excellent health services in appreciation of their social contributions.
The house-to-house drive comes as part of the ministry’s annual awareness campaign on seasonal flu, which runs till the end of January 2021 with a view to providing the flu vaccines for all target groups and expanding the vaccination coverage.
Ten primary healthcare centres are taking part in the initiative including Musheiref Health Center- Ajman, Al Khazan, Falaj Al Mualla, and Al Salamah Health Centers, and Al Raffa Health Center- Umm Al Quwain, Julphar, Saif Bin Ali Al Khatiry, and Ras Al Khaimah Healthcare Centres- Ras Al Khaimah, Al Khulaibiya Health Center and Al Faseel Family Health Promotion Center-Fujairah. In the Emirate of Sharjah, the service will be provided through cooperation between Primary Health Care and the Sharjah Social Services Department.
Top priorities
“Protecting the health of senior citizens comes at the top of the ministry’s priorities to effectively meet the health needs of this category within a safe and comfortable environment. This category has a special place in everyone’s heart,” said Dr Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Ministry's Health Centres and Clinics Sector.
“The ministry’s medical teams have already begun visiting senior citizens’ homes to give them the flu shot and offer the necessary healthcare while being surrounded by their families, taking into account all precautionary measures taken nationwide to combat COVID-19,” Al Rand added.
Annual Seasonal Flu Awareness Campaign
He further said that the Annual Seasonal Flu Awareness Campaign, which kicked off last month in cooperation with different health bodies in the county, features several initiatives and activities all aimed at raising health awareness on the importance of taking the flu shot among all members of society. They are also aimed at improving the efficiency of health workers and training them on the best international practices, to protect people against the virus and reduce the risks of infection. This comes in line with the strategic objectives of the ministry, this first of which is providing comprehensive and integrated health services using innovative and sustainable methods that ensure community protection from diseases, especially the highly contagious ones, Al Rand said.
A safe and effective vaccine
For her part, Dr. Aisha Suhail, Director of Primary Health Care Department, affirmed that the vaccination drive comes as part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to reduce the risks of flu infection among senior citizens and increase the vaccination coverage among individuals, especially groups at risk, in addition to enhancing their access to health services while at home.
“The seasonal flu shot is very safe, effective and helps prevent flu infection with a high success rate. It is upgraded annually to provide better protection against common viruses that cause the disease every year,” Suhail said.