Jeddah health authorities take action against healthcare workers refusing vaccine

RIYADH: The Directorate of Health Affairs in Jeddah has vowed to take action against healthcare workers who refuse to be vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by referring them to the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Profession Violations Committee.
According to a circular issued by the directorate’s head, the reason for the decision was poor vaccination numbers among healthcare workers across the governorate. The circular went on to state that while those with medical reasons not to take the vaccine would be exempt, the vaccine is mandatory for all other Jeddah healthcare workers.
The directorate affirmed that taking the vaccine was a civic duty, and necessary to curb the spread of the virus. It also reassured citizens that taking the vaccine is in line with all regulations.
The decision comes at a crucial time, with daily case numbers officially rising past the four-digit mark. The MoH continues to urge citizens to sign up for the vaccine, which is available both to Saudis and residents for free.
Appointments to be vaccinated can be made via the MoH’s designated app, Sehhaty, as well as appointments to be tested for the virus.
The MoH announced the diagnoses of 1,062 new COVID-19 cases, 867 recoveries, and 13 deaths on Wednesday. This raises the Kingdom’s total numbers to 415,281 confirmed cases, 398,454 recoveries, and 6,935 deaths.
Of the new cases, Riyadh reported the highest number with 458, followed by the Makkah region with 231, and the Eastern Province with 136. The regions reporting the lowest number of cases were the Northern Borders with 13, Baha with nine, and Jouf with seven.
The Kingdom has also carried out a total of 16,774,888 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, 66,185 of which were performed in the last 24 hours.
The Kingdom’s current number of active cases is 9,892, with 1,928 of those in critical condition, up by 21 since yesterday. Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s recovery rate is holding steady at 95.9 percent.
In terms of vaccination, the Kingdom has delivered over 8.8 million doses so far, currently at a rate of 168,988 per day.
Meanwhile, health clinics set up by the Ministry of Health as testing hubs or treatment centers have helped hundreds of thousands of people around the Kingdom since the pandemic began.
Among those testing hubs are Taakad (make sure) centers and Tetamman (rest assured) clinics.
Taakad centers provide COVID-19 testing for those who show no or mild symptoms or believe they have come into co