The COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are necessary and they are safe and effective. Therefore there exists no reason for community’s reluctance in taking them on priority. And they are also the only available option to counter the growing threat of new variant of coronavirus.
Now Omicron is fast becoming a dominant strain in many parts of the world and only weapon to defeat the mutated-virus is to ensure vaccination for all, who are still unvaccinated against COVID-19, and giving booster shots to people who took the second dose of the vaccine six or more months ago.
No doubt, Qatar managed the pandemic very well in the last two years and it was also due to responsible attitude of the community members who took part in the vaccination drive without any procrastination and reluctance in taking vaccine doses. Now again all members of the community will have to show the same level of maturity in taking booster doses by brushing all rumours aside.
The Ministry of Public Health has repeatedly urged people to take vaccines or booster shots also advising people to adhere strictly to preventive measures.
The Ministry has also reassured people that the booster dose is safe and effective, and it is very important that people have high levels of protection against the virus. Recent increase in cases in Qatar and the new Omicron variant both reinforce the need for people to have maximum protection from the virus through vaccination.
Booster vaccines are available at all Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centers and PHCC is directly contacting people who are eligible for the booster vaccine dose to set an appointment.
The Ministry further said that the most recent evidence shows that the booster dose is effective against the Omicron variant. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) will soon intensify its efforts to administer the COVID-19 booster dose to all fully vaccinated persons.
“Since December 23, 2020, National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has administered more than five million doses of vaccines and 86% of the total population is now fully vaccinated with two doses,” said Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, Dr Abdullatif Al Khal.
“We still need to give the booster dose to all who took the two doses of the vaccine more than six months ago, and there are intensive efforts that will be announced soon,” he added.
