Take the second dose on time to ensure utmost protection against COVID-19, the officials urge
Catherine W Gichuki
Doha
Several top officials of Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health received the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, 21 days after taking the first jabs.
National Pandemic Preparedness Committee Co-chairperson and Director of MOPH’s Health Protection and Communicable Diseases Dr Hamad Eid Al Romaihi, National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 Chair Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Medical Director of Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Communicable Disease Center Dr Muna Al Maslamani and Director of Public Health at MOPH Sheikh Dr Mohammed Al Thani were some of the officials who took the second shots.
In videos uploaded by MOPH, HMC and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) on their social media platforms, the officials said taking the second shot of the vaccine was necessary to ensure utmost protection against COVID-19.
Dr Sheikh Dr Mohammed Al Thani thanked the healthcare professional driving the vaccination campaign and highlighted the need to get inoculated at the right time.
“We advise everyone to come at the right time to ensure the full efficacy of the vaccine.”
Dr Maslamani said, “I would like to emphasize that anyone who has received the first dose is supposed to take the second one after 21 days to protect yourself and your family. Even if you have received the second dose you still need to apply all the COVID-19 precautionary measures, that is, the vaccine tool plus the social distancing, wearing of masks and washing of hands frequently to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 infection.”
Dr Romaihi said, “I am confident that this vaccine is safe and effective. I encourage everyone especially the high risk groups, elderly and those with chronic diseases to take the vaccine.”
