* Besides appointments, health centres accept walk-in appointments for this age group
* Achieving high rate of vaccination in this age group will also help support safe return to in-person education within schools: MoPH
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has approved the administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 years in Qatar, the official Qatar News Agency reports.
The decision is in line with recent studies that demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in this age group, as well as clinical evidence from countries around the world that have already begun vaccinating children aged five to 11 years, the ministry said in a statement yesterday.
The vaccine is one-third of the dose of that used for older age groups and is associated with only mild side effects.
The ministry said this is a "very important move to ensure that children of this age are protected against Covid-19". Although children have been less at risk of severe infection than older people since the start of the pandemic, a greater number of children have been infected and needing medical care in this current Omicron wave than in previous waves, it noted.
They can also develop long-Covid, a condition where the individual experiences symptoms for many weeks and months after the infection has gone, the MoPH said in a related infograph on social media. "Unvaccinated children are also at higher risk of catching Covid-19 and passing the virus on to more vulnerable family members," it added.
With the Omicron wave continuing to circulate in Qatar, the MoPH has urged parents to support their children aged five to 11 years in getting their Covid-19 vaccine to increase their immunity.
Achieving a high rate of vaccination among this age group will also help support the safe return to in-person education within schools, with 100% attendance at school having now resumed, the ministry stressed.
The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 years of age is administered, for those who wish to take it, as two doses with the second dose given three weeks after the first.
The Covid-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 years is available at all Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centres from January 30. Parents of eligible children can call the PHCC hotline on 4027 7077 to schedule an appointment for their child.
Health centers also accept walk-in appointments for this age group.
The decision is in line with recent studies that demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in this age group, as well as clinical evidence from countries around the world that have already begun vaccinating children aged five to 11 years, the ministry said in a statement yesterday.
The vaccine is one-third of the dose of that used for older age groups and is associated with only mild side effects.
The ministry said this is a "very important move to ensure that children of this age are protected against Covid-19". Although children have been less at risk of severe infection than older people since the start of the pandemic, a greater number of children have been infected and needing medical care in this current Omicron wave than in previous waves, it noted.
They can also develop long-Covid, a condition where the individual experiences symptoms for many weeks and months after the infection has gone, the MoPH said in a related infograph on social media. "Unvaccinated children are also at higher risk of catching Covid-19 and passing the virus on to more vulnerable family members," it added.
With the Omicron wave continuing to circulate in Qatar, the MoPH has urged parents to support their children aged five to 11 years in getting their Covid-19 vaccine to increase their immunity.
Achieving a high rate of vaccination among this age group will also help support the safe return to in-person education within schools, with 100% attendance at school having now resumed, the ministry stressed.
The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 years of age is administered, for those who wish to take it, as two doses with the second dose given three weeks after the first.
The Covid-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 years is available at all Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centres from January 30. Parents of eligible children can call the PHCC hotline on 4027 7077 to schedule an appointment for their child.
Health centers also accept walk-in appointments for this age group.