Qatar's Ministry of Public Health Announces Launch of Country's First COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

Doha, December 22 (QNA) - The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced Monday its commitment to implementing the largest vaccination campaign in the country during the rest of this month and next year by providing enough vaccines for all the targeted age groups. The ministry stressed, in a press conference held today to discuss the latest developments of COVID-19, the State of Qatar's commitment to providing the best vaccines accredited internationally, adding that they will be decisive in controlling the pandemic and having life revert back to normal gradually. The ministry said that the first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine arrives today after gaining emergency use authorization from the ministry for people above 16 years of age. In that context, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal thanked the country's wise leadership for its support in ensuring the best medical care for everyone who lives in Qatar. He added that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani directed the government early on to ensure enough supply of vaccines for citizens and residents by entering into binding agreements with the leading vaccine developers who had promising early trials. He noted that the State of Qatar allocated the necessary resources to ensure the supply of the vaccine. He highlighted that the State of Qatar was one of the first countries in the world to obtain the vaccine that will contribute to a gradual return to normalcy. He added that the MoPH is working on the launch of the inoculation campaign that will start on Wednesday Dec. 23 in the country's health centers. He said that the vaccine in question was approved last week by the US Food and Drug Administration after clinical trials carried out on thousands of subjects in many countries proved it was safe and effective. He also said that more than 130,000 and 350,000 were inoculated in the US and the UK respectively. He stressed that just because the vaccine was developed and approved in one year does not mean that any of the regulatory processes were skipped. He said that the vaccine's efficacy reached 95 percent in the trial with light to mild side effects that pain in place of the injection, weakness, or fever. He noted that these symptoms usually disappear after one to three days. He also noted that these side effects reflect that the body is responding to the vaccine. He said the vaccine is given over two doses that are three weeks apart. Al Khal said that the first shipments of the vaccine will go to the elderly, those who have chronic diseases, and those working on the front lines and first responders. On the nature of the new strain of the virus that appeared in some countries, and whether the State of Qatar will take any new measures in this regard, Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases Department at Hamad Medical Corporation, explained that the virus tends to continuously change through mutations or genetic changes that occur to it through its reproduction and spread and that these mutations in the COVID-19 occur more slowly than others, and often do not lead to any significant change in its behavior. He explained that the genetic makeup of the virus has undergone four mutations or changes since its appearance: the first was its transmission from animals to humans, the second that allowed it to spread widely, and the third that occurred by its transmission to some animals, then the fourth mutant that occurred in Britain, which shows that it has become more widespread than before, stressing that this does not mean that the virus has become more severe or that it will not respond to vaccinations. Regarding the measures taken by some countries to close their airports, he explained that the State of Qatar is closely monitoring the situation and does not yet see any necessity to change the procedures followed, noting that the United Kingdom is not on the green list and that those coming from there are subject to hotel quarantine and are examined before boarding the plane and show COVID-19 test certificate and other MoPH measures taken to limit the possibility of the virus entering the country and limit its spread. Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal reviewed the health situation in the State of Qatar, stressing that it is stable, as nearly 150 cases are diagnosed daily, which means that the virus is still present in society and can re-spread in the form of a new wave if the opportunity arises, noting that the majority of citizens have not been exposed to the virus in the past, so they are susceptible to virus infection, and most new cases are between members of the same family or acquaintances and friends through visits and social events. Concerning severe infections cases that require hospitalization, he explained that they range from 25 to 35 cases per day, or approximately 200 cases per week, and some cases end up entering intensive care, indicating that the virus continues to cause severe and critical injuries. Regarding deaths, he said that the number is still low, but each death represents a loss that can be avoided. for schools, he added the continuous checks carried out by MoPH show that the rate of infections is still low, which means that schools have not contributed to the spread of the virus in society. Dr. Al Khal stressed the necessity to caution and follow precautionary measures to avoid virus infection, by continuing to wear a mask, maintain a safe distance from others, avoid crowded places, wash hands and increase care in applying these measures in social events such as public gatherings, especially since many of the injuries came on these occasions. About the current situation of the pandemic at the global level, Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal explained that the pandemic is still spreading sharply, as some countries are witnessing its third and fourth wave, which constitutes a great burden on hospitals and intensive care units, adding that some countries are facing a new strain of the virus, which is more widespread than before, noting that more than 75 million confirmed infections and more than 1,600,000 deaths have been recorded so far. For his part, the ministry's Manager of Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control Dr. Hamad Al Rumaihi said that the State of Qatar is committed to providing the best available vaccines. He added that even though people from all age groups and segments are susceptible to the virus, some are more vulnerable than others. He highlighted that getting the vaccine was optional, and that enough of it will be available in 2021 to inoculate everyone in Qatar. He said the first phase will give priority to those above 70 given they have a higher risk. Priority will also be given to people suffering from kidney failure, severe asthma, heart diseases, weak immune system, and healthcare workers. He said that the vaccine was categorized as an RNA vaccine, it uses a nucleoside-modified mRNA (modRNA) that triggers an immune response to the virus. The mRNA then helps the body produce the protein that produces the required anti-bodies to fight the vaccine. He said the vaccine is given in two doses over 21 days to stimulate the immune response. He highlighted that it was important for people to get their second dose of the vaccine on time, as any delay could undermine the vaccine's efficacy. Full immunity normally appears a week after the second dose. Managing Director of Primary Health Care Corporation Dr. Mariam Alabdulmalik said the vaccines will be available in seven health centers. Those health centers are Al Wajba, Luabib, Al Ruwais, Umm Salal, Rawdat Al Khail, Al Thumama, and Muaither. Each health center will have medical teams that are dedicated to the vaccination process. She said that the first phase of people who receive the vaccine will be chosen carefully and will be reached by phone or text messages on how they can receive the vaccine. She added that, following the inoculation, patients will be given a card that shows the vaccine he received and the time and place he received it at. (QNA)