RIYADH: The Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Ministry of Education launched the second phase of its swine flu vaccination campaign in the Kingdom on Saturday.
Health Ministry spokesman Khalid Al-Mirghalani said the campaign started by focusing on kindergarten and primary school students and their teachers, as well as children with special needs. International school students will be given the dose during the second phase of the vaccination campaign.
“The program will be carried out for a period of five weeks,” said Al-Mirghalani. The spokesman also said that parents who have not provided consent for the vaccination of their children are getting panicky for no reason.
“The vaccine is just like another seasonal flu dose,” he said. “We are not forcing the parents to take these doses for their children, but we strongly advise them to do so as a preventive measure.”
So far, over 65 million people in 45 countries have taken the vaccine during the past few weeks. The United States has distributed 80 million doses among its citizens. Al-Mirghalani indicated that the side effects of the vaccine are not different from those that occur from other vaccines given during childhood.
The possible postvaccination effects include a dull pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, headache or muscle pain or high temperature and nausea. The vaccination should not be given to those who are allergic to poultry products. Last week, the Ministry of Health conducted a special workshop for the health officials who are dealing with parents, teachers and students during the implementation of this program. Arab News learned that many parents including Saudis and expatriates were not enthusiastic in providing H1N1 vaccine to their children after hearing reports about its harmful side effects.
Dhaifullah Al-Thubaiti, a government employee in Jeddah, said he was still undecided whether to give the vaccine to his three children or not because of reports regarding its dangerous side effects such as paralysis and sterility.
“At the same time, I am afraid that my kids would be hit by the disease if I do not provide them vaccination,” he said. Abdul Hakeem Al-Tabie, an Egyptian, decided to vaccinate his children against the disease.
“When Saudi authorities vaccinated pilgrims against swine flu, it played a big role in controlling the disease during the Haj season,” he pointed out. The Health Ministry said the second phase would continue for five weeks, adding that it has printed 10 million copies of a form in order to obtain parents’ permission.
Meanwhile, an informed source at the Education Department in the Makkah province said the vaccination is not mandatory for students and parents and guardians have the choice whether to take their children for vaccination or not.
— With input from
Galal Fakkar
