The National Scientific Committee of Infectious Diseases has held a meeting under the chairmanship of Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabia. The meeting discussed the safety of Swine Flu (H1N1) vaccine, the results of Saudi Food and Drug Authority in this regard including the steps taken to register the vaccine in the Kingdom. The Committee emphasized the importance of starting vaccinating people participating in Hajj as a first stage, including workers in health and government sectors, Hajj Services Establishments, and pilgrims from inside the Kingdom obtaining Hajj permits from Interior Ministry, stressing the importance of getting the vaccine two weeks before going to the holy places. The Committee was reassured about the health situation in general education, recommending pursuing the same criteria and strategies for combating the disease. The Authority stressed in a statement on Sunday that therapeutic benefits derived from the vaccine outweigh potential side-effects that can be caused by the vaccine, which they do not differ from the effects of seasonal influenza vaccine which is used for more than 20 years. The Authority also affirmed that it has also reviewed all reports issued by international bodies, particularly U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Evaluation Agency, and World Health Organization in addition to reports of registration and marketing of the same vaccine composition in 17 countries from Europe such as Britain, France, Belgium, Sweden and Spain and the Netherlands.
