KUWAIT CITY, Feb 2: The Ministry of Health has launched the bivalent vaccination campaign against Covid-19, indicating the campaign will last for three months starting from Feb 2, 2023 and the vaccine will be free of charge. In a recent press statement, the ministry urged citizens and expatriates, who are 18 years old and above, to visit one of the 16 designated vaccination centers from 3:00 pm to 8.00 pm Sunday to Thursday depending on their address in the civil identification card.

Following are the designated vaccination centers per health district:

Capital Health District: Shaikha Fetouh Salman Al-Sabah Medical Center in Shamiya; Jassem Al-Wazzan Medical Center in Mansouriya; Jaber Al- Ahmad Medical Center

Farwaniya Health District: Omariya Medical Center; Abdullah Al- Mubarak Medical Center; Andalus Medical Center; Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh Medical Center Hawally Health District: Salwa Specialized Medical Center; Mahmoud Hajji Haidar Medical Center; Rumaithiya Medical Center

Ahmadi Health District: Fintas Specialized Medical Center; Fahaheel Specialized Medical Center

Mubarak Al-Kabeer Medical District: Adan Specialized Medical Center

Jahra Health District: Al-Naaeem Medical Center; Al-Oyoun Medical Center; Saad Al-Abdullah Medical Center (Block 10)

The ministry also affirmed the availability of primary and booster shots for young people – 12 years old to 17 years old -- at Abdulrahman Al-Zaid Medical Center in Mishref; in addition to the first and second doses of the primary vaccines for those who are five years old and above. It stressed the need for those who have not been vaccinated to take the primary and booster doses, followed by the bivalent vaccine after two months.

The bivalent vaccine is aimed at improving resistance of individuals, boosting the effect of primary doses and minimizing the harmful effect of Covid-19; thereby, limiting the chances of confinement in intensive care units (ICUs), especially those most vulnerable to infection. The bivalent vaccine strengthens protection against the different strains of Covid-19 including Omicron, the ministry explained.