SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) has authorized updated COVID-19 boosters for adults to broaden protection ahead of this year’s Muslim Hajj (pilgrimage) season in June.
It comes a number of days after the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will host pre-pandemic numbers of pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia’s MOH approval is in line with its duty to oversee public health policy, hospitals and healthcare services across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The agency has announced the rollout of the country’s first bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine will offer comprehensive protection against severe COVID-19 and the omicron variant illnesses.
Saudi’s Ministry of Health emphasized that individuals who are eligible for the booster dose should have taken the last vaccine three months ago.
The MoH advised eligible candidates to apply for an appointment through the Sehhaty application.
The government department pointed out that the vaccination drive aims to protect the health of the elderly eligible to receive the booster vaccine and to protect them from the negative complications of a virus infection.
The regulatory decision follows a worldwide fear among experts of an increase in cases of COVID-19 and the latest omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 dubbed the Kraken variant.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabi approves the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccination, which protects against both the original COVID-19 virus and the Omicron strain, amid resurgence in China.
Saudi’s MOH and Alphaiota sign deal for medical technology deal
Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry of Health, represented by Seha Virtual Hospital and the Innovation Empowerment Center, has entered into a strategic partnership with information technology company Alphaiota to develop work in artificial intelligence and data analysis.
The signing ceremony was presided over by Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Seha Khaled bin Hussein Al-Qamash and Alphaiota CEO Thamir bin Saleh Al-Ballaa.
The partnership will build on Seha Virtual Hospital and the Innovation Empowerment Center’s ongoing efforts to provide digital health solutions following the launched of a safe environment platform for health innovations.
Moreover, it is part of the Ministry of Health’s efforts to support the provision of virtual healthcare in many precise and rare disciplines while facilitating access procedures.
The agreement also supports the building up of knowledge capacities and sharing health expertise in line with the goals of the national transformation and the Saudi Vision 2030.
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