The second phase of Covid-19 vaccination will be announced in a 'week or two', a top official of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said on Wednesday.
“The second phase will have more categories added so that more people will be eligible for vaccination,” explained Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of vaccination at MoPH.
She was answering a question if people aged 54 are eligible for vaccination during the weekly question and answer session. “Such categories will soon be eligible for the vaccination. Therefore it is important that all people who are willing to take the vaccine to register online,” she urged.
Dr al-Bayat said there was no clear information if the vaccination for Covid-19 will become annual, like the flu vaccine. “As of now, the vaccine available in Qatar is 95% effective against the virus and there are no serious side effects. Other details have to be confirmed later by the competent authorities,” she noted.
The MoPH official reiterated that all the Covid-19 protocols and regulatory measures including hotel and home quarantine will continue even for those who have taken two doses of the vaccine. “Until sufficient number of people have taken the vaccine, we have to follow all measures including, social distancing, wearing masks, sanitising the hands as well as other measures,” pointed out al-Bayat.
She also encouraged everyone to register online for vaccination even if they do not fit in the present category noting that the criteria changes from time to time. “Those who fit the criteria presently will be contacted. If you don’t fit in the criteria, the details will be recorded and as soon as the next phase with new criteria is announced, those registered and who fit in the new criteria will be contacted,” she added.