(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Fazeena Saleem | The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar has not recorded any outbreak of three common bacterial infections (Diphtheria,Pertussis,Tetanus) in the last seven years. The diseases has been eliminated due to the effective national vaccination programme implemented in the country, according to a senior official at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).
There has not been any major incidents of Tetanus, Diphtheria (a serious bacterial infection that affects respiratory system) and Pertussis (whooping cough) in the country and majority of people are vaccinated against the diseases, said Sheikh Dr Mohamed Al Thani, Director of Public Health MoPH yesterday.
'In the last seven years, we didn't report any endemic of the diseases in Qatar, he said.
However, two cases of Diphtheria were reported in 2017 and two Pertussis cases in 2016, among those who were not vaccinated against the diseases, Dr Al Thani further said, speaking on the sidelines of a workshop held related to upcoming Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) National School Vaccination Campaign for students in the tenth grade.
The eighth annual Tdap campaign will begin on February 18 and aims to vaccinate 9,000 students in independent and private schools. Dr Hamad Eid Al Rumaihi, Director, Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control Department at the MoPH said, 'Our aim is to keep Qatar free from these (Tdap ) diseases. The campaign is in its eighth year. Our aim is to sustain a strong national vaccination programme for children and keep them safe from infections. We are having such a campaign because every vaccine has its time-bound efficacy. When a child reaches adolescent age the immune level induced by the vaccine given at childhood becomes weak.
During the vaccination campaign, doctors and nurses from the MoPH and Primary Health care Corporation will visit schools to vaccinate students. However, children will be vaccinated only if parents give their consent.
'We have already distributed the consent forms among parents. So if parents reject we won't vaccinate the child. The more parents will cooperate, the more we will be able to protect children. Last year we reached around 70 percent of the targeted number of children and this year we aim at reaching at least 80 percent, said Dr Al Rumaihi.
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