COVID-19: Grade 12 students in Oman come out in droves for vaccination

Muscat: Oman saw a good turnout of grade 12 students, whose vaccination across all governorates in Oman started today. The campaign, which Oman’s Ministry of Health (MoH) said would last for two weeks. The current phase also incorporates teaching and administrative staff.

The vaccination centres in the capital - Sabla Muttrah, and Bowsher Sports Complex and Quriyat health centre - saw an orderly crowd of boys and girls who had come for their jabs.

Students from both private as well as government schools were eligible for the free vaccination shots. Centres located for this purpose around Oman included Nizwa Health Centre, Sultan Qaboos Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Dhofar region, Bidbid and Buraimi health centres, among others.

Earlier, the MoH had said 75,725 people will be vaccinated in this phase across the various governorates of Oman. Those eligible for vaccination in this round are general diploma students in public and private schools, the faculty supervising the General Education Diploma programme, examination committee members, observers and correctors, staff in examination centres, applicants for general education diploma examinations or the equivalent as well as the employees of the Educational Measurement and Evaluation Centre and the Correction Centres.

Khadeeja Mohammed, a student of Ruwi Higher Secondary School for girls, said she had been waiting for this day. “I have been updating myself with news regarding COVID-19 around the world and the more I read, the more I feel vaccine helps. My father who is a doctor appreciates my take on this. I am happy to have taken the first shot, which is a Pfizer.”