facebooktwittertelegramwhatsapp
copy short urlprintemail
+ A
A -
webmaster

CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
Qatar is working towards achieving 100 percent vaccination coverage within the next six years as the country has currently achieved 99 percent coverage, according to a Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) official.
Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop for healthcare providers on effective vaccination management held as part of World Immunisation Week themed Vaccination Works, MoPH Director of Public Health Department Dr Sheikh Mohammed al Thani said,"We are looking forward to achieving the complete coverage in the next Public Health Strategy 2017-22.
"We want to this be delivered in six years or maybe earlier. Qatar vaccination drive has always been leading in the region by getting most of the vaccinations free for everyone with 99 percent coverage."
Talking to the participants who came from government and private healthcare sectors as well as from Oman and Kuwait, al Thani said,"The remaining one percent is the most expensive part. We can't do it without the right plans, hard work and collaboration. If we have this kind of communication and effort together, we can achieve the 100 percent target."
According to him, through this kind of workshops, they want to ensure that all healthcare providers in Qatar are carried along on the same level.
"We want all stakeholders in Qatar's healthcare sectors to know the best ways of effective vaccine management," he said, stressing that vaccinations in Qatar are safe and are conducted in good procedures.
He reiterated that all vaccines that are accepted and agreed within the GCC are given in Qatar and are administered for free at health centres.
"All vaccines for children are given for free. For adults, yellow fever is given to those travelling to some countries for a small fee," he added.
Talking about the routine Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (TdaP) vaccination campaign, which was conducted recently, Dr al Thani said,"The vaccine has been a success and has been achieving its target goal."
On his part, MoPH Director of Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control Department Dr Hamad Eid al Rumeihi said that the campaign was launched with 'Effective Vaccine Management' because it is one of the strategic objective of the department linked to the new Public Health Strategy 2017-22.
"Our aim is to ensure delivery of effective and safe vaccine, build capacity training of all national workers to ensure proper delivery and storage of vaccines, and appropriate forecasting of vaccinations and stock management. Our aim is to deliver safe vaccines and select accredited vaccinations from World Health Organisation," he said.
According to him, there are around 14 vaccines in the national programme which were updated in 2017, besides the adults and travellers' vaccines based on the WHO recommendation.
He added that around half a million people received different vaccinations in 2016, including seasonal flu vaccines and vaccinations for students as well as vaccines for people going for Hajj and Umrah, the elderly, pregnant women and children.
Rumeihi said that the Communicable Disease Centre has a new comprehensive travel medicine clinic, which provides pre- and post-travel consultations."Travellers can seek guidance and consultations either before they travel or if they develop any kind of symptoms after returning from travel. This is done by appointment and, therefore, they can call the CDC hospital to book an appointment."
On her part, MoPH Head of Vaccination Dr Soha al Bayat said that the three-day workshop was an opportunity for various healthcare providers to get together and discuss how to handle vaccines according to the updated standards.
copy short url   Copy
25/04/2017
1782