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• Qatar among first countries in the world to begin the vaccination drive Tribune News Network Doha Qatar on Wednesday rolled out the first phase of the free coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination campaign, with the first jab successfully given to 79-year-old Dr Abdulla Al Kubaisi, a former president of Qatar University. “As directed by His Highness the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, we have worked hard, along with our partners across government, since the early stages of vaccine development at the start of the pandemic to ensure Qatar was among the first countries in the world to provide a safe, effective and approved COVID-19 vaccine totally free for its population. The vaccination of Dr Abdulla Al Kubaisi marks the start of a what will be the largest national vaccination programme in the history of our country,” Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamad Al Kuwari said. At around 8.45am, Dr Al Kubaisi, a 79-year-old Qatari citizen and former university professor, became the first person in Qatar to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr Al Kubaisi was vaccinated at Al Wajba Health Center and was the first of several hundred people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on the first day of Qatar’s vaccination campaign. “I am proud and honoured to be the first person to be vaccinated in Qatar,” Dr Al Kubaisi, a former Qatar University professor, said following his vaccination. “This has been a very difficult year for me and my family, living with the constant threat of the virus and fear for my health. I would like to thank the leadership of our country for their actions to confront the COVID-19 pandemic and for their efforts in bringing the vaccine to Qatar so quickly.” “I have listened to the advice and instructions from health officials throughout this pandemic and they have my full trust. Receiving the vaccine this morning has given me hope for a gradual return to normal life. I encourage anyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine to embrace the opportunity and get the vaccine as soon as possible,” added Dr Al Kubaisi. Following the vaccination of Al Kubaisi, Mohammed Frazat, an 88-year-old Syrian resident, became the second person in Qatar to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. During the first phase of the campaign vaccines will be prioritised for those most at risk of severe complications from the virus: people 70 years of age and older, those with multiple chronic conditions and healthcare workers with repeated exposure to COVID-19. “The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine we are utilising has met all safety and efficacy standards and has been approved by the European Union''s medicines regulator, the European Medicines Agency, the United States Food and Drug Administration, and the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Control for emergency use,” said Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19. “This is an important moment and it is the glimmer of hope that we have been waiting for,” Dr Al Khal said. “We hope that this will be the beginning of a comprehensive and effective national campaign to vaccinate the majority of the population of Qatar in the coming weeks. I would like to stress that the vaccination is safe and effective and there is a great desire from the public to have it,” Dr Al Khal, who is also the Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, said. Society''s perception of vaccination is changing and is increasingly positive, he said. “There will be many citizens and residents who will receive text messages in the coming period from the PHCC informing them that it is their turn to get the vaccine,” he added. Dr Al Khal said, “I would like to stress that taking the vaccine does not mean dispensing with the preventive and precautionary measures that all members of society should implement. We will not be able to dispense with wearing masks and social distancing and avoiding overcrowding until the majority of society members have received the vaccine.” “The sooner we can speed up the process of vaccinating the population, the faster we can reach the stage in which we can gradually return to normal life. I urge everyone to get the vaccination and to express their willingness if a call comes to inform them that it is their turn to receive the vaccination.” The first phase of the vaccination will run until January 31, 2021 and the government has said it expects to have enough vaccines to cover the country’s entire population in 2021. Qatar has also signed a deal to acquire the Moderna as well as the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines.
