Over 100K received COVID-19 vaccine sor far: Dr Al Bayat

‘Plan to exempt those taking vaccine from quarantine under study’ ‘75% of population needs to get the vaccine for returning to normal life’

MORE than 100,000 people have received the COVID-19 vaccine so far, a senior Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) official has said.

“There is a high demand for the vaccine. In the coming days, we will see more and more people getting vaccinated. We have reached at least 50 percent of the target groups,” Dr Soha Al Bayat, Head of Vaccination at the MoPH and the National Lead for the COVID-19 Track and Trace, said during the weekly Q&A session on Wednesday.

Dr Al Bayat said the proposal to exempt those who have taken the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from quarantine is under study.

She said at least 75 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated against the virus for returning to a normal life.

Dr Al Bayat said it is preferable to postpone getting the vaccine for anyone who suspects that he/she has the virus or has had contact with an infected person.

She said the mask must be worn all the time while travelling in a car with more than one person.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign started on December 23, 2020 in Qatar and is being done in phases with the elderly, those with severe chronic illnesses and healthcare frontliners being given the priority. Therefore, the number is not from the entire population but for the targeted groups.

Dr Al Bayat said the COVID-19 vaccination campaign is being carried out in phases.

“If you are healthy and well and have no illnesses, then you will soon be eligible. If you notice, we have phases for the campaign and it is based on the arrival of the (vaccine) shipments. So every time we get a new shipment we widen the circle. However, the priority will always be for the elderly, those with severe chronic illnesses and the frontliners. Hopefully soon, we will widen the circle and drop the age groups until we reach all age groups.”

She urged all those interested in getting inoculated for COVID-19 to register including those who are not covered in the current phase. One can register for the vaccine on TAWTHEEQ or National Authentication System (NAS).

“Please register and put all your details and as soon as you are eligible, you will be contacted to book an appointment,” said Dr Al Bayat.

In the coming days, we will see more and more people getting vaccinated. We have reached at least 50 percent of the target groups.” — Dr Soha Al Bayat, Head of Vaccination at the MoPH

SHE said if one has allergies from medication or food, they can still take the vaccine.

“I would recommend that if you are waiting after receiving the vaccination, stay for 30 minutes instead of 15 minutes just to be on the safer side,” she said, adding that there are people with food and medication allergies who have taken the vaccine and they are fine.

Regarding availability of COVID-19 vaccine, she said, “Until this stage what we are using is Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. We are expecting Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to arrive in Qatar soon and we will have the two.”

“MoPH and Qatar have entered into an agreement with the two companies to have sufficient amounts of doses to cover the entire population. So everybody who wishes to take the vaccine will be able to take it,” Dr Al Bayat.

She reiterated that if you take the first dose from one of them, you have to take the second dose from the same company.

Dr Al Bayat said that the COVID-19 vaccine is free of cost in Qatar.

She encouraged the public to continue observing all the COVID-19 precautionary measures such as social distancing, frequent washing of hands and wearing of masks even if they have received the COVID-19 vaccination.