COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility, Saudi health ministry assures public

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Updated 27 May 2021
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COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility, Saudi health ministry assures public

  • Studies show the vaccines are also safe for women planning to get pregnant and pregnant mothers, ministry adds
  • More than 13.4 million doses of the vaccine have been administered so far in the Kingdom

JEDDAH: The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines do not cause infertility or any other reproductive complications.

Responding to rumors after the vaccine, the MOH urged Saudis to “take the step” and get vaccinated, stating that COVID-19 vaccines have no effect on the reproductive system. 

MOH spokesman, Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly said that “there is no truth to this and the information is not credible.” 

Al-Abd Al-Aly explained that many studies have revealed the vaccine’s safety, including for women planning to get pregnant and pregnant mothers.

“Studies have shown that a COVID-19 infection affects the reproductive cells and affects fertility and reproductive capacity. The danger comes from the infection, not the vaccine,” added the spokesman.

Meanwhile, as some nations have approved the inoculation of children above the age of 12, assistant deputy minister of for preventive health at the MOH, Dr. Abdullah Assiri, said that once 70 percent of the Kingdom’s adult population is inoculated, then considerations will be made to begin vaccinating from the age of 12.

The MOH announced that more than 13.4 million doses of the vaccine have been administered so far at the rate of 38.5 doses per 100.

INNUMBERS

444,780 - total number of COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia

427,462 - total recoveries

7,295 - total deaths

Saudi Arabia reported 1,320 new cases on Wednesday, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 444,780. 

 For the first time in months, the number of active cases has surpassed the four-digit case count, with 10,023 active cases. The MOH said 1,348 of those cases were critical, a decrease of nine patients in the past 24 hours. 

According to the figures provided by the MOH, Makkah had the highest number of new confirmed cases with 404, followed by Riyadh (343) and the Eastern Province (164). The region with the lowest number of confirmed cases was Jouf with just five.

For the first time in over six months, the daily number of COVID-19-related deaths reached 17, raising the national death toll to 7,295. 

The MOH reported that 873 more patients have recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Kingdom to 427,462. Riyadh had the highest number of recoveries at 237 and Jouf and the Northern Borders both having the lowest at four. 

Approximately 93,145 PCR tests were administered in the past 24 hours. More than 18.7 million PCR tests have been conducted since the onset of the pandemic in March of last year.

Testing hubs and treatment centers set up throughout the country have dealt with hundreds of thousands of people since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Among them, Taakad (make sure) centers provide COVID-19 testing for those who show no or only mild symptoms or believe they have come into contact with an infected individual. Tetamman (rest assured) clinics offer treatment and advice to those with virus symptoms such as fever, loss of taste and smell, and breathing difficulties.

Appointments for both services can be made via the ministry’s Sehhaty app.


Saudi hospital has become a global leader in organ transplants

Updated 7 sec ago
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Saudi hospital has become a global leader in organ transplants

  • Over 9,000 organ transplants since 1981 and 1,092 in 2023
  • World’s first fully robotic liver, heart replacement surgeries

RIYADH: has become a world-leading facility for organ transplantation.

KFSHRC’s Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence has garnered international acclaim for its expertise in solid-organ transplants, including liver, kidney and lung procedures, said the hospital in a statement on Monday.

In the past year, the hospital successfully conducted 1,092 transplants.

KFSHRC has performed a series of groundbreaking surgeries, most notably the world’s first liver transplant from a living donor using robotic technology in both organ retrieval and implantation.

Building on this success, the surgical team recently completed the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant, further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in healthcare innovation.

Since the program’s inception in 1981, the hospital has performed 9,000 successful transplants.

Recognizing the critical challenge of donor-patient compatibility, particularly in kidney transplants, KFSHRC established the pioneering Kidney Paired Donation program.

This program facilitates the exchange of living donors with incompatible blood types and tissues between multiple patients, significantly increasing the pool of available organs and reducing waiting times.

The KPD program has enabled KFSHRC to perform over 5,000 kidney transplants.

KFSHRC’s commitment extends beyond the transplant surgery itself. Understanding prevention’s crucial role in patient well-being, the hospital established a specialized vaccination clinic for solid-organ transplant recipients in 2023.

This clinically tailored vaccination plans for each patient’s unique immune status and type of transplant, minimizes the risk of infections that could compromise outcomes.

The clinic has already served over 150 patients, achieving a high compliance rate for the Shingrix vaccine.

For the second consecutive year, KFSHRC has secured the top spot in the Middle East and Africa, and ranks 20th among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers.

Brand Finance recognized the facility as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Middle East for 2024.

Newsweek magazine also included the facility among the world’s best 250 hospitals and in the World’s Best Smart Hospitals list for 2025.


Saudi crown prince departs for Egypt to meet President Sisi

Updated 2 min 31 sec ago
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Saudi crown prince departs for Egypt to meet President Sisi

RIYADH: The Saudi Royal Court announced on Tuesday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had departed for Egypt. 
During his visit, the Crown Prince will hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The discussions will center on enhancing bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as addressing key issues of mutual concern.


Saudi art exhibition set for global debut

Updated 15 October 2024
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Saudi art exhibition set for global debut

RIYADH: The Museums Commission has announced plans to launch a landmark exhibition on the art of the Kingdom to bring Saudi contemporary work to the global stage.

The exhibition will tour several countries, introducing international audiences to the vibrant art scene in Saudi Arabia and showcasing the nation’s most prominent contemporary artistic endeavors.

The exhibition is set to debut in Brazil this November to coincide with the G20 Summit. This will ensure that Saudi art is showcased to a global audience during one of the world’s most significant international events.

Following its inauguration in Brazil, the exhibition will return to Riyadh, where it will be hosted at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in the Jax district in early 2025.

The exhibition will then travel to Beijing, where it will be presented at the National Museum of China toward the end of 2025.

The exhibition’s inaugural event in Brazil will feature works by about 15 Saudi artists, representing diverse genres and generations.

The artists will contribute installations, sculptures, oil paintings and drawings that reflect the richness and diversity of Saudi Arabia’s contemporary art scene.

By organizing the exhibition, the Museums Commission aims to empower and promote Saudi artists by providing them with an international platform to display their creativity.

The initiative also seeks to elevate the Kingdom’s cultural profile on the world stage and highlight its growing influence in the global arts and culture arena.


Baha workshop explores ecotourism, forest management

Updated 15 October 2024
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Baha workshop explores ecotourism, forest management

  • The aim is to create a sustainable action plan for the Al-Khala and Al-Ghouqa forests
  • This effort is part of a broader study to assess and develop national forests

RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification held a workshop recently in Baha focused on plans to carry out a social and economic survey of communities living near forests.

The aim is to create a sustainable action plan for the Al-Khala and Al-Ghouqa forests and evaluate ecotourism opportunities in the areas. This effort is part of a broader study to assess and develop national forests.

The gathering was held in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and local communities, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

During the workshop the center’s delegation met with tribal leaders, representatives, and members of environmental organizations to emphasize the community’s vital role in forest conservation.

The workshop included an explanation of the social and economic survey methodology and field visits to the targeted sites, the SPA reported.

The goal is to understand the perspectives of local communities on the surrounding forests and explore their potential contributions to sustainable management.

This includes identifying agricultural and pastoral practices to determine the most effective community involvement in the protection and rehabilitation of local forests.


KSrelief distributes food boxes, shelter kits in Syria and Gaza Strip

Updated 15 October 2024
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KSrelief distributes food boxes, shelter kits in Syria and Gaza Strip

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has distributed 1,832 food boxes and hygiene kits in Salqin and Azmarin of Idlib Governorate in Syria, as well as 1,396 food parcels and hygiene kits in Jandairis of Aleppo Governorate

The assistance is part of the second phase of a project entailing providing aid to people affected by the earthquake in northern Syria in 2024, state news agency SPA reported.

At the Gaza Strip, shelter kits were handed out in Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah in cooperation with the UN’s refugee agency as part of Saudi Arabia’s continued support for the Palestinian people.