Scheduled visits to schools and health centers

A mobile unit for seasonal flu vaccines

• Dr. Maryam Abdul Malik stresses the importance of getting vaccinated this year more than ever.
• Dr. Samia Al Abdullah: We are ready to cooperate with various State institutions.
• Sabah Al Kuwari: Ooredoo is taking part in the campaign because the safety of its staff is a priority.
• School visits start on Sunday to vaccinate teachers and staff.

The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) announced the launch of the seasonal flu vaccination campaign in its 27 health centers in different regions of the State, beginning mid-October, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and several other partners in the health sector to ensure the success of the objectives of the seasonal campaign.

This seasonal campaign for the year 2020 is part of the efforts the MoPH and PHCC has combined to safeguard public health. In this context, PHCC will launch a campaign to provide administrative and teaching staff working in all primary and model public schools and kindergartens with the necessary vaccinations against seasonal flu which occurs most in the fall and winter. Students eligible for vaccination in these schools can visit PHCC's health centers to get the annual vaccine.

In this regard, PHCC has taken the necessary measures to provide mobile vaccination teams as of next Sunday, November 8th, to ensure that all target groups receive the necessary vaccination against seasonal flu, especially in light of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world.

PHCC has also coordinated with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to facilitate access of mobile teams to vaccinate staff and teachers wishing to receive this year's flu vaccination. As is well known, the option to get vaccinated remains non-compulsory for all.

As for health centers, PHCC is working to revitalize this seasonal flu vaccination campaign and make it a success. With the aim of facilitating access to the vaccine this year and as a precautionary measure that helps to maintain social distancing as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, a mobile vaccination unit has been launched to support the campaign, which aims to provide the target groups with the vaccination service in an easy, safe and quick way.

The mobile unit of PHCC supports the seasonal flu vaccination campaign according to a carefully prepared schedule, as the mobile unit is available in the most frequented health centers to maintain patients’ safety and provide easy access to the vaccination service, as it was planned to have the mobile unit in 8 health centers:

1. Mesaimeer HC
2. West Bay HC
3. Madinat Khalifa HC
4. Al Wakrah HC
5. Airport HC
6. Abu Bakr Al Siddiq HC
7. Al Rayyan HC
8. Al Shahaniya HC

For her part, Dr. Maryam Abdul-Malik, General Director of PHCC, visited Al Wakrah Health Center to inspect the seasonal flu vaccination campaign, launched by PHCC in cooperation with the MoPH and HMC, to have a close look at all preventive and precautionary measures taken by health centers to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus, and to ensure the protection of patients, medical staff, nurses and all health workers.

She also stressed the importance of getting a vaccination against seasonal influenza this year more than ever, considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

“PHCC is keen to implement this campaign annually and to provide vaccination free of charge against seasonal influenza in cooperation with several health authorities to facilitate people's access to the vaccination, reduce the spread of seasonal influenza, and protect the society, particularly the groups most vulnerable to its complications, such as those over the age of 50, those with chronic diseases, pregnant women, and children between the ages of six months and five years, wishing everyone health and wellness,” she said.

“Ooredoo thanks PHCC”

As part of strengthening community outreach, PHCC provides flu vaccinations to several public and private authorities in the State to facilitate access to vaccination. PHCC is partnering with Ooredoo by providing nursing staff at the company's Towers on Sunday and Monday, November 8th and 9th.

For its part, Sabah Rabiah Al Kuwari, Director of Public Relations at Ooredoo, Thank PHCC on behalf of the company and emphasized “the importance of getting seasonal flu vaccination”, he also pointed out “that the company's participation in this campaign stems from its social responsibility and that with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, it is necessary to take precautions for our staff as their health remains our priority.”

For her part, Dr. Samia Al Abdullah, Executive Director of the Operations Department at PHCC, confirmed that the national campaign for vaccination against seasonal influenza, launched by PHCC in cooperation with the MoPH and HMC, aims at helping the society and ensuring that there is no exposure to diseases that are common in the winter as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the world, especially those who need it most, such as children, pregnant women, those over the age of 50, and those with chronic diseases.