Doha: Medical Director of the Communicable Disease Center at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Dr. Muna Al Maslamani, has said that there is no risk in taking the COVID-19 vaccine even if the person is infected by the virus.
In an awareness video posted by the HMC, Dr.Al Maslamani also emphasized the need to follow COVID-19 preventive measures even after getting the vaccine.
“You can get infected after taking the vaccination, especially after taking the first dose, because the body develops sufficient level of antibodies only two weeks after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Al Maslamani.
“The vaccine will be 50 percent effective after the first dose and approximately 95 percent effective two weeks after receiving the second dose,” she added.
Dr. Al Maslamani highlighted that the vaccines protect against disease and not infection, meaning that the vaccination will not prevent infection, but in the event that the person infected, its symptoms will be mild compared to the person who did not receive the vaccination.
Also vaccines work to reduce the percentage of people who are hospitalised after infection, according to Dr. Al Maslamani.
“Do not forget that the effectiveness is not 100% therefore everyone should take the necessary precautions,” she added.
