With the opening of Qatar's second drive-through vaccination centre in Al Wakra Sunday, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has reiterated the procedures and rules for getting inoculated at one of these facilities.
The first drive-through vaccination centre was opened in Lusail earlier.
In an advisory on social media, the MoPH shared the following information with the public:
* Is an appointment needed to attend a drive-through centre?
No. People do not need an appointment to attend the drive-through centres. However, as the centres are only for people receiving their second dose, they must attend 21 days after the first dose for Pfizer-BionTech and 28 days after the first dose for Moderna. This date will be given at the time of the first dose.
People cannot visit the drive-through centre on a day other than the set date for the second dose.
People attending the drive-through center will be seen on a first-come-first-seen basis. "At peak times, you may be required to wait while other people are seen first," the MoPH said.
* Do people need to wear masks during their visit?
Yes. All attendees must wear masks at all times in their vehicles while at the drive-through centre.
Even if the vehicle has only one occupant, they must still wear a mask as they will be interacting with medical staff at the centre.
* Can people visit the drive-through centres together in one vehicle?
"Yes. If you have family or friends who are also due their second dose on the same day, you can attend the drive-through centre in the same vehicle," the advisory said.
Note that a maximum of four people are allowed in one vehicle. Vehicles with more than four occupants will not be admitted to the drive-through centre.
No pets are allowed inside vehicles when visiting the drive-through centre.
* What is the vaccination process at the drive-through centres?
Step 1: On arrival, security staff will check your Ehteraz and you will be directed to one of the primary waiting lanes. Each occupant of the car is asked to have their Ehteraz ready for inspection on arrival.
Step 2: Once you reach the front of the primary waiting lane, you will be directed to one of the 10 vaccination lanes.
Step 3: Your first stop will be at the registration/assessment pod. Once you reach this point, you will be asked to place your car in park mode, apply your brake and lower the car window/s. A member of the drive-through centre team will ask for the QID, health card and vaccination card for each of the car occupants and also ask a few quick assessment questions. All occupants should always remain inside the vehicle. After the registration is complete, your vaccination and ID cards will be returned to you and you will be asked to drive forward to the next stop
Step 4: The second stop is at the vaccination pod — where you will once again be asked to put your car in park mode and apply the brake. A member of the drive-through team will take each occupant's vaccination card and administer the vaccine to vehicle occupants through the vehicle windows.
Step 5: Once all occupants have been vaccinated, you will then be asked to drive into the observation parking area where you will be required to wait (in your car) for a short while to ensure you do not have a reaction to the vaccine.
Paramedic teams will be on site in the unlikely event that anyone has a reaction requiring emergency medical support.
Step 6: Once your wait time is up, the observation team will come to your vehicle and give you your completed vaccination cards. You will then be free to leave the drive-through centre.
In an advisory on social media, the MoPH shared the following information with the public:
* Is an appointment needed to attend a drive-through centre?
No. People do not need an appointment to attend the drive-through centres. However, as the centres are only for people receiving their second dose, they must attend 21 days after the first dose for Pfizer-BionTech and 28 days after the first dose for Moderna. This date will be given at the time of the first dose.
People cannot visit the drive-through centre on a day other than the set date for the second dose.
People attending the drive-through center will be seen on a first-come-first-seen basis. "At peak times, you may be required to wait while other people are seen first," the MoPH said.
* Do people need to wear masks during their visit?
Yes. All attendees must wear masks at all times in their vehicles while at the drive-through centre.
Even if the vehicle has only one occupant, they must still wear a mask as they will be interacting with medical staff at the centre.
* Can people visit the drive-through centres together in one vehicle?
"Yes. If you have family or friends who are also due their second dose on the same day, you can attend the drive-through centre in the same vehicle," the advisory said.
Note that a maximum of four people are allowed in one vehicle. Vehicles with more than four occupants will not be admitted to the drive-through centre.
No pets are allowed inside vehicles when visiting the drive-through centre.
* What is the vaccination process at the drive-through centres?
Step 1: On arrival, security staff will check your Ehteraz and you will be directed to one of the primary waiting lanes. Each occupant of the car is asked to have their Ehteraz ready for inspection on arrival.
Step 2: Once you reach the front of the primary waiting lane, you will be directed to one of the 10 vaccination lanes.
Step 3: Your first stop will be at the registration/assessment pod. Once you reach this point, you will be asked to place your car in park mode, apply your brake and lower the car window/s. A member of the drive-through centre team will ask for the QID, health card and vaccination card for each of the car occupants and also ask a few quick assessment questions. All occupants should always remain inside the vehicle. After the registration is complete, your vaccination and ID cards will be returned to you and you will be asked to drive forward to the next stop
Step 4: The second stop is at the vaccination pod — where you will once again be asked to put your car in park mode and apply the brake. A member of the drive-through team will take each occupant's vaccination card and administer the vaccine to vehicle occupants through the vehicle windows.
Step 5: Once all occupants have been vaccinated, you will then be asked to drive into the observation parking area where you will be required to wait (in your car) for a short while to ensure you do not have a reaction to the vaccine.
Paramedic teams will be on site in the unlikely event that anyone has a reaction requiring emergency medical support.
Step 6: Once your wait time is up, the observation team will come to your vehicle and give you your completed vaccination cards. You will then be free to leave the drive-through centre.