Today, the Ministry of Health inaugurated a program that incorporates the rotavirus vaccine into the national immunization schedule. The event also marked the launch of the 4th edition of the national guide for the immunization program and the Omani guide for immunization.

Commencing from November 2023, newborns will receive the rotavirus vaccine, administered in two doses: the first at two months from birth and the second at the age of four months.

Under the auspices of Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health, the ceremony underscored the importance of adopting the new vaccine due to its adherence to international standards. Minister Al Sabti highlighted Oman's commitment to advancing initiatives for the development of the health sector.

Dr. Said Harib Al Lamki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs, emphasized that the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine and the fourth edition of the national immunization program demonstrate the ministry's dedication to eradicating infectious diseases and safeguarding public health stability.

Al Lamki stressed that administering the vaccine to the targeted segments, estimated at 90,000 children annually, could potentially reduce hospitalization rates by 90 percent. He further noted that the government currently expends approximately OMR 1 million on hospitalization for cases of diarrhea attributed to the rotavirus.