*Moderna vaccine is very similar to the Pfizer-BioNtech and approved for safety and efficacy by the US , EU, UK and Qatar
The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) will commence administering the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine from Monday in three of its health centres: Al Wajba, Lebaib, and Thumama.
The move comes following an initial delivery of Moderna vaccines last week, with more quantities due in the coming weeks, it was explained in a statement Sunday.
"It is very encouraging that we can now add the Moderna vaccine to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in our vaccination programme," Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, chair of the National Health Strategic Group on Covid-19 and head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, said.
“We were clear from the outset that we only wanted to administer for the people of Qatar safe and effective vaccines that are approved in Qatar and internationally. The Moderna vaccine is very similar to the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine and people should not be concerned which vaccine they are given.
"As with Pfizer-BioNTech, studies show the Moderna vaccine is nearly 95% effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 infection after two doses and it has been extensively tested and found to be safe for people aged 18 years and over,” added Dr al-Khal.
The Moderna Covid-19 vaccine is already being used in many countries around the world and has been approved for safety and efficacy by the US Food and Drug Administration, European Union, the UK, and the Department of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Control at the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar.
“Patients given vaccination appointments at Al Wajba, Lebaib, and Thumama health centres will be informed which vaccine they will receive: Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech," PHCC managing director Dr Mariam Abdulmalik said.
"The appointment process remains the same, with our PHCC teams continuing to directly contact people who meet the current eligibility criteria and schedule them for appointments. As more quantities of the Moderna vaccine become available to us throughout March we will increase the number of health centres using both types of vaccine,” she added.
The move comes following an initial delivery of Moderna vaccines last week, with more quantities due in the coming weeks, it was explained in a statement Sunday.
"It is very encouraging that we can now add the Moderna vaccine to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in our vaccination programme," Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, chair of the National Health Strategic Group on Covid-19 and head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, said.
“We were clear from the outset that we only wanted to administer for the people of Qatar safe and effective vaccines that are approved in Qatar and internationally. The Moderna vaccine is very similar to the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine and people should not be concerned which vaccine they are given.
"As with Pfizer-BioNTech, studies show the Moderna vaccine is nearly 95% effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 infection after two doses and it has been extensively tested and found to be safe for people aged 18 years and over,” added Dr al-Khal.
The Moderna Covid-19 vaccine is already being used in many countries around the world and has been approved for safety and efficacy by the US Food and Drug Administration, European Union, the UK, and the Department of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Control at the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar.
“Patients given vaccination appointments at Al Wajba, Lebaib, and Thumama health centres will be informed which vaccine they will receive: Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech," PHCC managing director Dr Mariam Abdulmalik said.
"The appointment process remains the same, with our PHCC teams continuing to directly contact people who meet the current eligibility criteria and schedule them for appointments. As more quantities of the Moderna vaccine become available to us throughout March we will increase the number of health centres using both types of vaccine,” she added.
