The spread of Omicron variant of Coronavirus has led to new restrictions being rolled out around the world, and calls by the governments for the people to take their primary vaccine doses as well as the booster shots. Qatar and several other countries in the region have also reported Omicron cases. Qatar’s Cabinet reviewed the situation yesterday and stressed the importance of booster shot to ensure high levels of protection from the virus.
The Ministry of Public Health has accelerated administering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines. Currently all those who received their second dose more than six months ago are eligible to get a booster shot. As studies have shown, a booster dose is effective in preventing severe infections with Omicron.
The studies indicate that for majority of people the protective immunity against COVID-19 infection obtained from the first two doses of vaccine gradually declines with the passage of time.
Qatar has administered more than five million vaccine doses to date, including 216,503 booster doses. 86 percent of the country’s population has been vaccinated with two doses. Over 247,000 cases have been recorded in Qatar since the start of the pandemic nearly two years ago, while there were 2,323 active COVID-19 cases as of December 22, 2021.
Health officials says most of the new COVID-19 cases have been in unvaccinated people or those vaccinated more than six months ago. Health officials said people should wear masks in open spaces too if they are crowded. Officials have also reassured the people that there are no serious side effects from the primary or booster doses reported to date.
Though the Omicron variant has initially been considered to be more transmissible than other variants, the World Health Organization said it does not yet have enough data on the Omicron variant to say if it is more transmissible than the Delta variant.
Qatar’s handling of the pandemic from day one has been efficient and highly effective. Within a short span of a few months, the majority of the population has been vaccinated with two doses. However, with the emergence of new variants and latest clinical evidence, booster shots have been advised for the people. It is in this context that the authorities have called on all those eligible to get the booster shots as soon as possible. At the same time it is also necessary that people continue to follow all the prescribed precautions.
