Qatar tops region in providing coverage of vaccines

The Director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said yesterday that Qatar tops the countries of the region in providing the highest coverage of safe and high quality vaccines, exceeding 95%.
The MoPH is marking World Immunisation Week from April 24 to 30 under the theme “Protected Together: Vaccines Work”, chosen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the theme for this year’s celebration. During the week, emphasis is placed on the need for further work in immunisation field around the world, and on highlighting the role that can be played by all in the achievement of this work.
Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop organised by the MoPH yesterday to review the activities of World Immunisation Day, Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani said that the celebration of World Immunisation Week aims to encourage people to get the necessary vaccinations at the specified times to ensure protection against infectious diseases, stressing that Qatar is keen to deliver vaccinations to all citizens and residents to give them immunity for a long healthy life and wellness.
The MoPH will organise several events and activities in co-operation with governmental, semi-governmental and private health institutions on the occasion of World Immunisation Week, including a workshop during which specialists from the MoPH and HMC highlighted the latest development in the national vaccination programme which is considered one of the best national immunisation programmes in the Eastern Mediterranean region as it provides a wide range of vaccines against many diseases. During the workshop, the participants in the immunisation activities and events were also honoured.
Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of the MoPH’s immunisation department, said that the ministry, in co-operation with HMC, Primary Health Care Corporation, National Advisory Committee and all health authorities, aims to emphasise the quality and safety of vaccinations available in Qatar that are adopted by the WHO, in addition to co-operating with ministry partners to achieve vaccination targets.
She explained that the access to vaccinations is not limited to those in the approved schedule, but also includes vaccines for travel, study or treatment abroad, noting the need to ignore rumours about vaccinations and to receive information from official sources. (QNA)