Omani doctors have urged people to take the third or booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines.
Omani doctors stressed in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) the importance of urgently receiving the third/ booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines for the target group of 18 years and over, especially with the spread of the Omicron variant in the world in general and in the Sultanate of Oman in particular, with an emphasis on the importance of continuing to adhere to the precautionary measures.
Dr Feryal bint Ali Al Lawati, Senior Consultant at the Communicable Disease Department at Royal Hospital said: "There is an urgent need at the present time for a third /booster dose, as the effectiveness of two doses of COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron to prevent infection, according to initial studies, may reach only 30 per cent."
Dr Zaid Al Hina’ai, an infectious disease consultant at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital said that field studies in more than one country confirm that the booster dose raises the protection rate against infection with Omicron between 70-75 per cent.
Dr Zakarya Al Balushi, an infectious disease consultant at the Royal Hospital confirmed that the third dose is one of the important strategies to control the virus in society and maintain epidemiological stability, especially since the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly compared to the Delta variant. It is expected to be one of the dominant strains in the world.
Dr Ridha bin Issa Al Lawati, an intern at the Royal Hospital said: "COVID-19 mutations may give new characteristics to the virus or take away other properties from it. As the Omicron has many mutations, including the spinal protein, which may help speed its spread, but scientific evidence confirms that the booster dose is of paramount importance in confronting the new mutant."
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