Minister of Health launches H1N1 vaccination campaign

Riyadh, 7 November 2009, SPA-- At the Main auditorium of the Ministry of Health
headquarters, Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, the Minister of Health received the first
dose of the Swine Flu A H1N1 as the beginning of the official Campaign of the
National Vaccination Campaign against Swine Flu Type (H1N1) with participation of
the members of the National Scientific Committee to counter epidemic diseases.

The nasal spray Vaccine is registered and approved by the Saudi Food & Drug
Authority (SFDA) and also by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA).

The Ministry pointed out that the vaccine will be given primarily to Hajj-
participating employees from all sectors of governmental bodies.

The Ministry, hence, secured quantities of the vaccine and delivered them to the
relevant parties in the government sectors to be given to the concerned employees.
In addition, the vaccine will also be distributed in all regions and governorates
of the Kingdom to be given optionally for people who have Hajj permit. The
Ministry has allocated specified amounts to be distributed among most vulnerable
workers in Makkah and Madinah regions.

In the same context, the Ministry of Health follow-up the swine flu updates amid
Hajj season, all preparedness and all precautionary and preventive measures have
been taken to address the disease through the plans and programs of the National
Scientific Committee for epidemic Diseases.

--SPA