MOH: No need to worry about Omicron

INA – BAGHDAD
 
Ministry of Health – MOH confirmed on Monday, that it had not recorded any new mutant Omicron cases so far, and while it stressed that there is no need to raise concerns about it without scientific basis. It clarified the fact around stopping vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
 
"Iraq has not recorded any cases with the new mutant, and there is no need to raise concerns without relying on a correct scientific basis," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Saif Al-Badr, to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), noting that "the information about the new mutant is still limited, and we were not surprised by the change rather, we expected and warned,”
 
Al-Badr added, "The basics of prevention remain the same from wearing a mask, physical distancing, and taking the vaccine that has proven effective," explaining that "the third dose is an important decision, and those included in taking the vaccine are dangerous cases, the elderly and health personnel six months after taking the second dose,"
 
"The Ministry of Health has taken measures that reduce the risk and harm. It is difficult to control the issue, for example, that even developed countries have not been able to protect their societies, but the basics of prevention remain the same," he stressed.
 
He noted that "the Ministry did not decide to stop the AstraZeneca vaccine, and what was reported is incorrect, and the vaccine is ongoing," stressing that "the three vaccines, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Pfizer, have proven their effectiveness in Iraq, and the ministry continues to provide them,"