Qatar - 'Children among most affected in recent Covid spike'
Date
12/29/2021 4:16:13 AM
(MENAFN- Gulf Times)
Among the most affected in the recent spike in COVID-19 cases are children and people who have had a drop in immunity as more than six months have elapsed after their second dose of vaccine, a senior health official said.
'Several medical facilities have been allocated to follow up on Covid-19 patients,' Dr Hamad Eid al-Rumaihi, director of the Department of Health Protection and Communicable disease Control at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), told Qatar TV Tuesday.
'During the past two months, we have noticed an increase in the spread of the virus in society and over the recent days in hospitalisation too,' he said. The Communicable Disease Center, The Cuban Hospital, and Hazm Mebaireek Field Hospital are receiving Covid-19 patients.
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Shot in the arm
'The vaccination campaign which started in December 2020 has seen more than 5mn doses being administered in Qatar against Covid-19, covering about 86% of the population. The booster dose administration started on September 15, 2021 and to date more than 247,000 people have been vaccinated, with a growing demand. We hope to cover more people in the forthcoming period,' added Dr al-Rumaihi. ___________________________________
'We are fully ready to receive patients in the same way we did before with the previous waves and the increase in cases. The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has the capability to increase the patient capacity. There are several hospitals which gave Covid-19 treatment during the previous period, and they are ready to join the dedicated hospitals if need be.
'With the advent of the winter season in which people tend to stay indoors, viruses spread more easily,' the official pointed out.
Referring to the upcoming opening of the Qatar Vaccination Center – for the Business and Industry Sector in Bu Garn on January 9, 2022, Dr al-Rumaihi said the facility will administer around 30,000 booster doses per day to key business and industry workers.
'This is in addition to the availability of vaccines in the 28 health centres of the Primary Health Care Corporation. There is a sufficient amount of vaccines. We call on all those who are eligible for the third shot to take the initiative to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
'The goal of the booster dose is to improve immunity in general, especially within the context of the spread of several variants. The Omicron variant is spreading, and 107 countries have announced its prevalence. Also the spread of other variants in the future is possible.
'In addition to protecting oneself, the person who has the Ehteraz Gold Frame gets several advantages, related to travel and entry to workplaces, restaurants, health clubs, barbershops. As for the entry to malls, people will need only the green status in Ehteraz.'
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