Doha: Senior Ministry of Public Health official answered public queries about Covid-19 vaccine on a live Instagram question and answer session today.
During the session, Dr Soha Al Bayat, Head of Vaccination, urged everyone to register on the Ministry website to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. The online registration will allow people who meet the requirements for priority groups to request for an appointment to receive the vaccine.
She also expressed hope that sufficient number of people will be vaccinated against Covid-19 in Qatar and around the world and herd immunity is reached by summer.
In reply to a question related to for how long we will have to live with the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Al Bayat said: “To be honest we still don’t know for how long we will have to live with COVID-19, but at least until summer, we hope by which time that the majority of the population across the world will receive the vaccine and make it very difficult for it to transmit from one person to the other. And most probably based on the scientific data we have, it may become something that we live with like the flu. But it will be weaker and much more under control and no longer a pandemic.”
Dr Al Bayat also explained the difference between Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and other COVID-19 vaccines available in the world.
“There are so many other countries and companies that have developed the COVID-19 vaccine or in the process of developing one.
“They are available around the world, being used and have a good outcome. The one we have in Qatar so far is Pfizer-BioNTech and hopefully soon Moderna. And we are looking into the possibility of bringing other vaccines.
“If you talk about the technology, yes there are two types. There are the types like Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna who are using the mRNA technology and there are some other companies using the standard traditional way of developing vaccines by using a weakened or killed virus as part of the vaccine to stimulate the body’s immune system to develop antibodies,” she said.
NOTE: mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases. To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.
She also said during the Q&A that from today the age limit to receive vaccine has been revised in Qatar.
“Today it was announced, for non-Qataris the age limit is reduced to 50 years and above or those with complicated chronic illness and for Qataris all age groups. Hopefully soon the next phase will be announced and non-Qataris also will have a lower age group.
“If you haven’t registered yet on the website that was announced weeks ago please go ahead and register or book an appointment with your health centre to receive your vaccine,” she said.
