Qatar to launch flu vaccination campaign on Tuesday, aims to inoculate 500,000 people

Catherine W Gichuki 

DohaWith the flu season approaching, Qatar is all set to launch its annual seasonal influenza campaign.The campaign kicks off on Tuesday and will continue until February/March 2021, though the vaccine will always be available.The campaign will be carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC). The vaccine will be available for free from government, semi-government and private healthcare facilities.The vaccine is safe and anyone, including babies as young as six months old, can receive the shot.This year, the MoPH seeks to vaccinate more than 500,000 people. Last year, the target was 200, 000 and it was a success. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Head of infectious diseases Dr Abdullatif Al Khal said it was more important to take the flu vaccine now as this year’s campaign comes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.He said if someone has COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms can also take the vaccine. Also, more than 70 private and public healthcare facilities will be providing the vaccine, he added.Other officials at the press conference included Dr Hamad Eid Al-Rumaihi, Director of Health Protection and Control of Communicable Disease MOPH, Dr Soha Albayat Head of the Vaccination Section at MOPH, and Dr Khalid Hamid Elawad, Subject Matter Expert - Public Health, Clinical Affairs at PHCC.