The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched activities that promote community awareness regarding importance of flu vaccine administration under its National Seasonal Flu Awareness Campaign 2021.

The seasonal flu campaign was launched in September 2020, under the theme ‘Protect yourself ... protect your community’. It aims to increase community awareness, enhance prevention methods and encourage community members to get seasonal flu vaccination.

The awareness day activities were attended by Dr Hussein Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, and many senior officials and employees from the ministry along with some families and children.

The activities included lighting up Dubai Frame in orange, organizing a creative activity workshop for young children to increase their awareness and brainstorming skills through drawing, colours and kinetic games. Other activities included displaying educational information on smart screens highlighting importance of preventive methods, along with conveying a clear message that vaccination is the best prevention against a disease.

“Flu vaccines are safe and effective. They can curb the disease and its complications, especially for individuals at risk of developing complications such as children under five years of age, the elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases such as asthma, heart diseases, kidney and liver ailments, diabetes and hypertension, and health workers,” said Dr Al Rand, who urged all to take the vaccine and abide by preventive measures to curb spread of seasonal influenza.

“The Ministry of Health pays utmost attention to diversifying awareness programmes about influenza, methods of prevention and the importance of vaccination to cover most segments of society, using innovative ways and means that suit every category”, Al Rand said, adding that awareness day activities targeted all segments of society including children.

“The National Seasonal Flu Awareness Campaign is one of the most important annual events on the ministry’s agenda. It was developed based on its strategy that focuses on raising public awareness about the disease and encouraging people to take vaccinations,” Dr Al Rand added.