Doha: The quarantine procedure for children who are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccination but have travelled with parents who have been vaccinated is under consideration, a senior health official has said.
“This matter is still under study, and an announcement will come out very soon. Probably, children below 16 years, who are not eligible to take the vaccine, and if they come back with parents who have been fully vaccinated and finished their two doses 14 days before, the parent will have to sign an undertaking that children will stay home and not be allowed to go out for seven days,” said Dr. Soha Al Bayat, Head of Vaccination at the Ministry of Public Health, during a live Instagram question and answer session.
“If the child is above 16 years and has not been vaccinated, then they have to be quarantined. In that case, a parent has to stay with the child during the quarantine. If one parent is not vaccinated, then they will have to stay with the child in quarantine,” she added.
In reply to a question about how long a person would be immune to COVID-19 after vaccination, Dr. Al Bayat said that the period might change since studies are ongoing.
“The validity has been set as three months. This doesn’t mean the vaccine is valid only for three months. Studies are on in this regard,” she said.
She added that people who have registered online would be contacted as per the priority basis and asked infected persons to get vaccinated to prevent re-infection.
“No scientific data is available that indicates safety and risk of vaccination towards pregnant and breastfeeding women,” said Dr. Al Bayat.
She also emphasised that side effects due to the COVID-19 vaccination are similar to those of other vaccines.
“Some of the infected people developed pain and tiredness. Pain, headache, lethargy, and high or increasing temperature are common side effects. Among the majority of the vaccinated people, these side effects were cured within 24 hours while taking panadol or similar tablets while a small percentage required 48 hours for the side effects to go,” said Dr. Al Bayat.
According to Dr. Al Bayat, many women who participated in the clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine development in stage 3 and coincidentally got pregnant live a healthy and safe pregnancy.
“There is no contraindication between taking the vaccine and getting pregnant. And you do not have to wait after the vaccine for any period before trying to get pregnant,” she said.
