Muscat: Oman’s Minister of Health shared details on the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Sultanate while addressing concerns over safety that were circulating on social media.

Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Saeedi, the Minister of Health and member of the Supreme Committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, has said that the first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine will reach Oman before the end of this year.

He also added that despite the low rate of transmission in the Sultanate, the pandemic is still lurking at the “same rate of strength and power of propagation”.

Talking about the inoculation, he stated: “No law compels anyone to take any vaccine, except childhood immunizations,” noting that whether or not to take the vaccine is the decision of the individual.

He then added: “We rely on the awareness of society in this matter,” before pointing out that certain priorities in all countries govern who should take the vaccine first.

“Once the vaccine is received in the Sultanate, it will be given first to eligible segments, free of charge.”

There is no established proof of any death linked to the vaccine, said the minister, who reiterated confidence in the society’s awareness and on the role of media in enhancing this awareness to refute such rumours.

He advised all to ignore any news on COVID-19 vaccine deaths that are circulated by any means other than official media sources.

The minister explained that the side-effects of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine are normal, like local pain, headache, or fever that might be associated with any other medical drug. The COVID-19 vaccines were produced after going through the same procedures as any other vaccine, except that the speed of the process has been accelerated, but without prejudice to the vaccine’s safety as a medical drug, the minister added.