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Tribune News Network
Doha
Starting this month and throughout 2021, Qatar will carry out its largest-ever vaccination programme against the COVID-19 pandemic, Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation Dr Abdullatif Al Khal has said, as the first batch of a coronavirus virus is set to reach the country on Monday.
"Starting this month and continuing throughout 2021 we will undertake the biggest vaccine programme ever delivered in Qatar. For now, it is just as important as ever that people continue to wear their masks and follow all the precautionary measures because we are still seeing people being admitted to hospital and intensive care with COVID-19,” added Dr Al Khal.
With the vaccination programme, Dr Khal said he expects the pandemic would come to an end and life would return to normality.
"The comprehensive clinical trial process undertaken on Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine has showed it is safe and 95 percent effective. Despite the speed at which the vaccine has been developed and tested, the usual strict testing and approval process has been followed,” he added.
Qatar's Ministry of Public Health has given emergency approval to use Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, following similar approvals in other countries including the US, UK and Canada.
Director of Pharmacy and Drug Control, and Chair of the Vaccine Procurement Taskforce Dr Aisha Ibrahim Al Ansari said, “We announced the authorised supply of Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for emergency use in Qatar, for people aged 16 years and older. This comes after a rigorous process throughout which we have looked at all the evidence provided by Pfizer and BioNTech and are more than satisfied that this is a safe and effective vaccine."
Dr Abdul Wahab Al Musleh, advisor to the minister of public health for sports and emergency affairs, last week said the first batch of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech will arrive in Qatar before the end of December and it will administered in two doses three weeks apart.
Elderly people with chronic diseases and healthcare professionals in the frontline fight against the virus will get the first priority in receiving the shots, he added.
General population will be start getting the vaccines gradually from January.
Although vaccination is not compulsory in Qatar, entry to aircraft, stadiums and hotels might require proof of immunization against COVID-19, he added.
Dr Soha Al-Bayat, the head of vaccination in Qatar, said the country Qatar has no plans to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory. The public will be given the choice as to whether they receive the vaccine once it begins being rolled out, she added.
However, Dr Soha expressed hope that the public would choose to take the vaccine to protect themselves and the community, highlighting the level of awareness about the pandemic among the citizens and residents in the country.
Doha
Starting this month and throughout 2021, Qatar will carry out its largest-ever vaccination programme against the COVID-19 pandemic, Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation Dr Abdullatif Al Khal has said, as the first batch of a coronavirus virus is set to reach the country on Monday.
"Starting this month and continuing throughout 2021 we will undertake the biggest vaccine programme ever delivered in Qatar. For now, it is just as important as ever that people continue to wear their masks and follow all the precautionary measures because we are still seeing people being admitted to hospital and intensive care with COVID-19,” added Dr Al Khal.
With the vaccination programme, Dr Khal said he expects the pandemic would come to an end and life would return to normality.
"The comprehensive clinical trial process undertaken on Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine has showed it is safe and 95 percent effective. Despite the speed at which the vaccine has been developed and tested, the usual strict testing and approval process has been followed,” he added.
Qatar's Ministry of Public Health has given emergency approval to use Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, following similar approvals in other countries including the US, UK and Canada.
Director of Pharmacy and Drug Control, and Chair of the Vaccine Procurement Taskforce Dr Aisha Ibrahim Al Ansari said, “We announced the authorised supply of Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for emergency use in Qatar, for people aged 16 years and older. This comes after a rigorous process throughout which we have looked at all the evidence provided by Pfizer and BioNTech and are more than satisfied that this is a safe and effective vaccine."
Dr Abdul Wahab Al Musleh, advisor to the minister of public health for sports and emergency affairs, last week said the first batch of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech will arrive in Qatar before the end of December and it will administered in two doses three weeks apart.
Elderly people with chronic diseases and healthcare professionals in the frontline fight against the virus will get the first priority in receiving the shots, he added.
General population will be start getting the vaccines gradually from January.
Although vaccination is not compulsory in Qatar, entry to aircraft, stadiums and hotels might require proof of immunization against COVID-19, he added.
Dr Soha Al-Bayat, the head of vaccination in Qatar, said the country Qatar has no plans to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory. The public will be given the choice as to whether they receive the vaccine once it begins being rolled out, she added.
However, Dr Soha expressed hope that the public would choose to take the vaccine to protect themselves and the community, highlighting the level of awareness about the pandemic among the citizens and residents in the country.
