RIYADH — The Ministry of Health announced that it has started on Wednesday providing the seasonal influenza vaccine as part of its efforts to promote preventive health and facilitate access to healthcare services. The ministry noted that groups most at risk of complications from seasonal influenza include people with chronic diseases, those over 50, children aged six months to five years, pregnant women, people with severe obesity, and healthcare workers, stressing the importance of vaccination. The ministry revealed that 95.5 percent of influenza-related hospitalizations last year were those who failed to receive a vaccine. The ministry emphasized the vaccine's effectiveness in reducing the likelihood of contracting influenza and mitigating its complications. It noted that vaccination reduces the risk of death among the elderly by more than two-thirds. The ministry stressed the importance of annual vaccination, given the continuous changes in influenza virus strains, and urged all members of the society, especially those most vulnerable to complications, to get vaccinated.The ministry urged the public to book an appointment to receive the vaccine through the Sehhaty application.