Chickenpox Vaccine For 5- & 6-Year-Olds
The Ministry of Health and Prevention has announced that the second dose of chicken pox varicella vaccine, to prevent chickenpox, will be administered to students this academic year (2017-2018).
The announcement was made this week during a workshop on the importance of immunisation programmes in schools and discussed the latest updates on diseases.
Nada Al Marzouqi, director of the Preventive Medicine Department and executive manager of Happiness and Positivity said, “the second dose of the chickenpox vaccine will be given to students aged five to six years through a collaboration with the local health authorities.”
Gulf News reports that for 16-year-old students, the government intends to switch from the booster dose of diphtheria and tetanus vaccine to a new vaccine inclusive of the pertussis vaccine.
“The move to include the vaccine to the National Immunisation Programme for children reflects the ministry’s full commitment to protect the community from diseases and prevent them from spreading, particularly in schools,” said Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Rand, assistant undersecretary for Health Clinics and Centres.
