14 June 2023 – The response of Saudi Arabia to the COVID-19 pandemic has been globally acknowledged as well structured, well managed and effective. With the Ministry of Health leading the response, Saudi Arabia established a strong multisectoral coordination mechanism through the adoption of a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach. The newly established public health authority played a crucial role in coordinating all relevant authorities to respond to public health events or emergencies, aligning their efforts of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 that takes into consideration the evolving roles of the health sector.
One of the critical roles played by the vaccination centre was to extend their services to include the diplomatic community, as their aim is to provide comprehensive health care for all people in a fair and accessible manner. At a time of uncertainty early in the pandemic when access to vaccines represented a challenge globally, many people were unaware of where or how to get their COVID-19 vaccine. The centre’s services were progressively expanded to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to the diplomatic community. In total, 200 000 people were administered with the vaccine, of whom 18 000 were affiliated to diplomatic entities in Saudi Arabia, including 90 ambassadors/heads of missions, their employees and families.
All vaccination rooms were well equipped Staff in the vaccination centre were well trained and oriented to follow the strict protocols set by the Ministry of Health, and the centre provided a range of vaccines, including Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca. It prioritized the health of all people who sought vaccination, irrespective of their legal status, and services were provided free of charge to anyone who needed them, with no appointments necessary. Ambulances were ready to transport anyone needing emergency care to the hospital.
A fully equipped children's vaccination room Ibrahim bin Nasser Al-Dahmash, supervisor of the vaccine centre, explained that the Government, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (may God protect him), and his faithful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have always prioritized the health, well-being and safety of all people in Saudi Arabia. They understood the importance of providing vaccination to all citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia free of charge and without discrimination.
The challenges of addressing fear and stigma among younger children, older people and people with physical disabilities had to be addressed and so the Ministry of Health organized home visits for these groups. They also created innovative ways, such as using mobile clinics, to reach people and make the process of getting vaccinated easier for them, and valuable lessons were learnt about how to reach greater segments of the population. The centre also reached a greater number of children by creating a child-friendly environment through the use of toys and virtual reality headsets, which helped reduce fear and anxiety among children.
The centre now offers a range of vaccines other than just the COVID-19 vaccine.
Children’s anxiety was alleviated during vaccination through the use of toys and virtual reality headsetsDr Adham Abdel Moneim, WHO’s Representative for Saudi Arabia stated, “WHO highly commends the role and vision of the vaccination centre. It played a crucial part in Saudi Arabia's fight against COVID-19. The Government has remained committed to immunizing as many people as possible free of charge, and has provided innovative solutions to reach a greater number of people, including children and non-Saudi citizens and their efforts are greatly appreciated”.