Tribune News Network
Doha
Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari on Monday met with Dr Abdulla Al Kubaisi and Dr Mohammed Frazat, the first two people in Qatar to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking during the meeting, the minister said, "Qatar was among the first countries to provide a safe, effective and approved COVID-19 vaccine for its population and the vaccinations of Dr Kubaisi and Dr Frazat signaled the launch of Qatar’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Wednesday, December 23. The campaign has seen thousands of the most at-risk members of the community and healthcare workers receive the vaccine in the first week and a half.”
She added, "I was delighted to meet Dr Kubaisi and Dr Frazat and hear from them how receiving the first dose of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine has given them cause for optimism and how they are now advocating the vaccine to other at-risk members of the community. I would like to thank everyone who has received the vaccine for taking action to protect themselves and for playing their part in ending this pandemic.
"Clinical trials have shown that the vaccine becomes fully effective only after one week of receiving the second dose and people who have had the first dose are still at risk of catching the virus and should continue to apply the preventive measures.”
During the first phase of the campaign vaccines are being prioritised for those most at risk of severe complications from the virus: people 65 years of age and older, those with multiple chronic conditions and healthcare workers with repeated exposure to COVID-19.
Commenting on his vaccination, Dr Kubaisi, a 79-year-old Qatari citizen and former president of Qatar University, said: "It was an honour for me to be the first person in Qatar to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccination process was straightforward and painless, and I have had no side effects since receiving the vaccine. I am happy to see many other people in the community receiving their first dose and I encourage anyone who is eligible to have the vaccine as soon as possible.”
Dr. Frazat, an 88-year-old Syrian resident and former Qatar University professor, explained how it has been a difficult year for him and his family living under the threat of COVID-19.
He said, "Knowing that older people are more at risk from severe symptoms of COVID-19 has meant I have been living under the threat of this virus for most of the year. I am thank Qatar’s leadership and the health authorities for ensuring the most vulnerable population can access the vaccine so quickly. I have had no side effects following my first vaccine dose and I look forward to receiving my second dose soon.”
"The response to the launch of the vaccination campaign has been very encouraging. Every day, more people in the most high-risk priority groups are being vaccinated. As greater numbers of eligible people receive their vaccinations, including many prominent members of society and senior health officials who meet the eligibility criteria, this is helping to build trust among the population in the safety of the vaccine. We recommend that people who got both doses continue to apply the preventive measures for extra protection,” said Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, who also attended the meeting.
Doha
Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari on Monday met with Dr Abdulla Al Kubaisi and Dr Mohammed Frazat, the first two people in Qatar to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Speaking during the meeting, the minister said, "Qatar was among the first countries to provide a safe, effective and approved COVID-19 vaccine for its population and the vaccinations of Dr Kubaisi and Dr Frazat signaled the launch of Qatar’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Wednesday, December 23. The campaign has seen thousands of the most at-risk members of the community and healthcare workers receive the vaccine in the first week and a half.”
She added, "I was delighted to meet Dr Kubaisi and Dr Frazat and hear from them how receiving the first dose of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine has given them cause for optimism and how they are now advocating the vaccine to other at-risk members of the community. I would like to thank everyone who has received the vaccine for taking action to protect themselves and for playing their part in ending this pandemic.
"Clinical trials have shown that the vaccine becomes fully effective only after one week of receiving the second dose and people who have had the first dose are still at risk of catching the virus and should continue to apply the preventive measures.”
During the first phase of the campaign vaccines are being prioritised for those most at risk of severe complications from the virus: people 65 years of age and older, those with multiple chronic conditions and healthcare workers with repeated exposure to COVID-19.
Commenting on his vaccination, Dr Kubaisi, a 79-year-old Qatari citizen and former president of Qatar University, said: "It was an honour for me to be the first person in Qatar to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccination process was straightforward and painless, and I have had no side effects since receiving the vaccine. I am happy to see many other people in the community receiving their first dose and I encourage anyone who is eligible to have the vaccine as soon as possible.”
Dr. Frazat, an 88-year-old Syrian resident and former Qatar University professor, explained how it has been a difficult year for him and his family living under the threat of COVID-19.
He said, "Knowing that older people are more at risk from severe symptoms of COVID-19 has meant I have been living under the threat of this virus for most of the year. I am thank Qatar’s leadership and the health authorities for ensuring the most vulnerable population can access the vaccine so quickly. I have had no side effects following my first vaccine dose and I look forward to receiving my second dose soon.”
"The response to the launch of the vaccination campaign has been very encouraging. Every day, more people in the most high-risk priority groups are being vaccinated. As greater numbers of eligible people receive their vaccinations, including many prominent members of society and senior health officials who meet the eligibility criteria, this is helping to build trust among the population in the safety of the vaccine. We recommend that people who got both doses continue to apply the preventive measures for extra protection,” said Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, who also attended the meeting.