As part of national efforts to enhance protection against seasonal influenza, the Directorate General of Health Services in South Al Batinah organized an event to honor the winning health institutions in the competition for vaccinating healthcare workers against seasonal influenza. The event was held under the patronage of the esteemed Director General of Health Services.

The event began with a speech by the Director General, who urged everyone to take the influenza vaccine, emphasizing its importance as an essential and effective tool for preventing the disease and protecting both healthcare workers and patients visiting health institutions. He highlighted the availability of the vaccine in all health institutions and its role in safeguarding high-risk groups in the community, such as pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with chronic diseases.

The event included scientific lectures presented by health experts, offering significant insights. Dr. Khalid Al-Dhahli, Director of the Department of Disease Surveillance and Control, delivered a lecture on seasonal influenza, discussing the disease's epidemiological burden, the challenges posed by the mutation of influenza viruses, and the ongoing efforts to update vaccines to match new strains. He also highlighted the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing health complications associated with the disease.

In another lecture, Dr. Sami Al-Majini, Head of the Epidemiological Surveillance Section, addressed the issue of vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers, shedding light on its causes and contributing factors. He provided recommendations to enhance vaccine uptake through innovative means and awareness strategies.

Mr. Nasser Al-Shaqsi, Head of the Infection Prevention and Control Section, presented the results of primary health institutions and vaccination rates among their staff, categorizing the institutions into three groups based on the number of healthcare workers they employ.

• Al-Musannah Health Complex won first place among institutions in the first category.
• Wadi Al-Maawil Health Center secured first place among institutions in the second category.
• Al-Razi Health Center, Wadi Bani Awf Health Center, and Balad Sayt Health Center jointly achieved top rankings in the third category.

The event concluded with the honoring of the winning institutions in recognition of their efforts to achieve high vaccination rates, thereby strengthening the preventive role and encouraging other institutions to improve their vaccination performance.

This initiative stands as a testament to the healthcare sector’s commitment to ensuring the safety and efficacy of the influenza vaccine and its pivotal role in reducing infection and mortality rates, aiming for a safer winter for all.