To further intensify the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has encouraged and reminded those eligible and hasn’t received the vaccine to get it as soon as possible.
The Ministry has also said that COVID-19 vaccine can lower the risk among elderly people and the vaccine is safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women.
The Ministry, in a video posted on its social media platform video, conveyed the message that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 will protect the health of individuals and other members of the community.
It has encouraged older people who are much more vulnerable to severe complications from the virus to get vaccinated.
“It is very important for people in older age to get vaccinated as they are at a higher risk of developing complications due to COVID-19. I urge everyone who is eager to have a better health for themselves and their family to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
Getting vaccinated is the only way out from the pandemic,” said Ousama Mohamed Akif a senior citizen speaking in an awareness video posted by the MoPH. In another development Qatar’s National Health Strategy Lead for Healthy Women Leading to Healthy Pregnancies, Dr Najat Al Khenyab has said in a statement on Wednesday that pregnant women who have chronic medical conditions that could further increase their risk for severe COVID-19, as well as those whose work puts them at increased risk for getting infected, should consider taking the vaccine.
She said that a pregnant woman who is part of an at risk group recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccine such as healthcare personnel, may choose to be vaccinated and t the vaccine is also safe for women who are planning to become pregnant and those currently breastfeeding their babies.
Though, the vaccines have not yet been tested in on pregnant women, Dr. Al Khenyab has said that evidence from non-clinical studies of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine has been reviewed by the World Health Organization and the regulatory bodies in the USA, Canada and Europe and has raised no concerns about safety in pregnancy.
“Pregnancy alters the body’s immune system and generally affects a pregnant woman’s response to viral infections in general, causing in some cases more severe symptoms. However, from research evidence so far, pregnant woman (just as anyone else) could acquire COVID-19 and most healthy pregnant women do recover before they deliver. A
ll pregnant women affected by COVID-19 are being successfully cared for at Hamad Medical Corporation and most babies born to COVID-19-positive mothers have so far tested negative,” said Dr. Al Khenyab.
