MOPH: More than 125,000 COVID-19 Booster Doses Safely Administered in Last Seven Days

COVID-19 Vaccine

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has announced that more than 125,000 COVID-19 vaccine booster doses have been safely administered in the last seven days as the roll out of booster doses picks up pace.

Anyone aged 12 years and above who had their second dose more than six months ago is eligible for the booster dose and to date, more than 450,000 people have received a booster vaccine dose.

Head of Vaccination at MOPH, Dr. Soha Al Bayat, explained the need for people to have a booster dose six months after their second vaccine dose. "There is clear evidence from multiple local and international studies showing that the protective immunity obtained from the first two doses declines six months after the second dose. The booster dose significantly increases the individuals protection against COVID-19 and provides around 75 percent protection against mild to moderate infection and more than 90 percent protection against severe infection or death."

COVID-19 booster doses are being administered at all 28 Primary Health Care Corporation health centers as well as the Qatar Vaccination Center for Business and Industry in Bu Garn. Since opening on 9 January, the Qatar Vaccination Center has administered more than 100,000 vaccine doses. The majority of the vaccines administered at the Center are booster doses, while the Center also gives first and second doses to eligible people, including new arrivals to Qatar.

"Following the administration of more than 450,000 booster vaccine doses in Qatar, only a limited number of people have reported modest side effects including low-grade fever, mild headache, fatigue and soreness at the injection site, which is similar to the side effects following the second dose of the vaccine. No serious side effects have been reported to MOPH," explained Dr. Al Bayat.

SOURCE: QNA