Muscat – The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced that seasonal influenza vaccines will be available at its health centres beginning September 18.

In a statement, MoH said it will administer the seasonal flu vaccine to people over the age of 60 years and those with chronic diseases (respiratory, heart, renal, liver, neurological, blood and metabolic disorders, including uncontrolled diabetes and obesity) among adults and children, pilgrims, workers in the health sector, pregnant women and two-year-old children.

‘The ministry calls on these groups to visit the nearest health centre to receive the seasonal flu vaccine to avoid the influenza infection which affects the respiratory system and can cause serious complications’ MoH stated.

It informed that the vaccine is available in private health institutions for citizens and residents who are not in the target groups.

According to MoH data, as many as 177 cases of seasonal influenza – and two deaths resulting from it – were recorded in the sultanate in 2020/2021.

Outbreaks of seasonal flu, caused by influenza viruses, resulting in acute respiratory infection are witnessed in all parts of the world. Seasonal flu claimed 29 lives in Oman between July 2018 and June 2019. The number of cases in the 2019/2020 flu season, however, decreased due to precautionary measures adopted worldwide to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.