Government website WAM reported at the weekend that a meeting held by the Ministry of Health’s Technical Health Committee for Combating H1N1 Virus decided that “in light of instructions, the Ministry of Health in co-operation with competent authorities nationwide provides the required treatment for all patients across the country as per medical measures specified by the World Health Organisation”.

The meeting stressed that the treatment be made available “for all patients at public and private hospitals”.

The committee discussed the latest developments in the spread of the disease at local, regional and international levels.

It also decided that there was no need to install thermal cameras at GCC borders as a precautionary measure "at this stage”.

It was also noted that side effects that followed H1N1 vaccinations were minor and similar to the side effects of seasonal flu vaccines, however, mechanisms were in place to follow up such side effects should they occur.

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