The vaccines being administered in Qatar are effective against COVID-19 Delta variant. “The vaccines are effective and safe even against Delta variant,” said Medical Director of Hamad General Hospital, Dr. Yousef Al Maslamani.
Speaking in a Qatar TV programme, he said that the vaccines protect people from severe symptoms which could lead to admission in hospitals. Dr. Al Maslamani said that the vaccinated people could receive very minor infection unlike unvaccinated people who could get severe infection and need going to hospital and ICU.
Regarding importance of preventive measures for vaccinated people, he said: “So far, the vaccine is safe and effective, however, the latest study suggests that even vaccinated people could transmit the infection to unvaccinated people.” “This is why we are asking people to still adhere to preventive measures like wearing face masks, maintaining social distance, washing hand properly after touching anything.”
Urging people to take vaccine as soon as possible, Dr. Al Maslamani said that so far, 4,500 millions doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to the people in all over the world without any severe complication.
He said that the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are well known which are being witnessed by people like mild fever which subsides within two days. Dr. Al Maslamani asked people to come forward for taking the vaccines to help the community get immunity against COVID-19 as soon as possible. He thanked people in Qatar for complying to the preventive measures and responding to the National Vaccination Campaign which records millions of vaccinated people. “Cases of infection are almost stable. A little bit increase was recorded last week because of family visits durimg Eid Al Adha,” said Dr. Al Maslamani.
He said that during next three weeks before the reopening of schools large number of people are expected to come back from summer vacations.
“The Delta variant exists in all over the world including Qatar. Since large number of people will enter in Qatar who might be infected with Delta variants, we have adjourned to move to the fourth phase of lifting COVID-19 restrictions and extended the phase 3,” Dr. Al Maslamani added. He said that Delta variant is dangers and spreads fast among people.