A medical doctor urged senior citizens and residents in Qatar to get vaccinated, especially those who have one or more chronic health issues.
Rumailah Hospital and Qatar Rehabilitation Institute medical doctor, Dr. Hanadi Al Hamad said being unvaccinated “will put your health at a great risk of serious complication from an infection.”
The COVID-19 cases have been constantly rising since January 1. Yesterday, the Ministry of Public Health reported 2,273 new cases, of them 1,687 were from within the community, while 586 cases were found among travellers returning from abroad.
Dr. Al Hamad also advised the public to get their third booster shot.
“Clinical evidence shows that COVID-19 booster dose is highly effective against Omicron variant. If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, please do so now. If you have been vaccinated earlier, then you should get your booster shot for protection,” she explained.
She also explained that immunity from vaccine diminish after six months, “placing people at increased risk of getting infected.”
The booster shot is available at healthcare centres in the country. To book an appointment, call the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) on 40277077, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) or Elderly Urgent Care which is located in Rumailah Hospital on 33253128 and 55193240.
Dr. Al Hamad urged caregivers, who look after their patients’ health and mobility issues, to contact the PHCC to arrange vaccination appointment.
“If you are looking after an older relative with health challenges and mobility issues or have someone in your family with Alzheimer’s disease, or anyone need help to get vaccine, please contact PHCC to arrange the vaccine as soon as possible,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, the departments of Emergency Medicine and Ambulance Service of the HMC also urged the public to call its hotline only for critical medical emergencies.
Deputy Chairman of Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Aftab Azad said: “I ask all patients with non-emergency conditions to use an alternative service such as HMC’s virtual Urgent Care Service or one of the eight PHCC Urgent Care Centres.”
This came after an increase of people is seen at his department with flu-like symptoms seeking help.
Assistant Executive Director of the Ambulance Service, Ali Darwish disclosed: “Please support us by only calling 999 for critical medical emergencies. We ask people with non-emergency conditions to make their own way to a relevant health facility and not to request an ambulance transfer. This includes people with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms.”
