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(MENAFN - Arab News) The Ministry of Health must obtain permission from parents or guardians before swine flu vaccinations are given to their children in schools.
"The format of the consent letter was finalized at a meeting of the National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases, chaired by Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah on Tuesday," Dr. Khaled Al-Mirghalani said on Tuesday.
He said that the ministry would send the specimen consent form to the Ministry of Education from where it will go to some 30,000 schools throughout the Kingdom.
He explained that targeting the students would be the second phase of the ministry's vaccination campaign in the Kingdom.
Beginning Saturday, local Haj pilgrims who have obtained a permit from the Ministry of Interior, health officials, workers and officials of Tawafa establishments who are working within the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah will be vaccinated.
Al-Mirghalani pointed out that the Saudi Food and Drug Association (SFDA) has approved the H1N1 vaccine. He also stressed that pilgrims are advised to take the vaccination at least 14 days before the pilgrimage.
Speaking about possible side effects of the vaccination, Al-Mirghalani said that some children might experience a dull pain, redness or swelling in the injected area light headaches, a rise in body temperature and nausea. "Those who are allergic to poultry products such as chicken and eggs and others who frequently become victims of seasonal influenza are requested to abstain from the vaccination."
According to the SFDA, all studies and analyses confirmed that the therapeutic benefits of the vaccine outweigh the possible side-effects.
The SFDA's drug sector with its departments and centers, has followed and studied all stages of the production of the H1N1 vaccine and has studied in depth all published reports about vaccine tests and studies; files of vaccine registration regarding safety, quality and effectiveness.
It was ascertained that the vaccine is marketed in 17 European countries such as Britain, France, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Prince Faisal ibn Abdullah told newsmen following the GCC Education Ministers Conference in Riyadh that there was no shortage of sanitizers in the Kingdom's schools.
"The Kingdom is a vast country and there is a gap between distribution and delivery points since we have to deliver the items to more than 30,000 schools all over the Kingdom," he added.
By Mohammed Rasooldeen
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