DOHA: Some 27,766 children have been vaccinated in first four days of national immunisation campaign against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), which began here on October 17. So far, no adverse affect has been reported.
The Ministry of Public Health announced that 4,641 children were given the shot at primary health centres, while some 1,200 were vaccinated at other healthcare facilities, including private clinics. Some 8,672 students were given shot at independent schools and 13,253 students in private schools.
The one-month campaign, which runs until November 14, is aimed at some 294,000 children between one to 13 years of age. It comes amid 22 recently reported cases of measles in Qatar.
Though according to Qatar’s vaccination schedules, children should be given two MMR shots at 12 and 18 months of age, a few of the children do not develop sufficient immunity against the diseases after the first or the second dose. Hence the third MMR booster dose is important, according to MoPH officials.
MoPH is closely monitoring the campaign for any reports of severe side effects of the vaccination. The ministry has also asked parents to ensure that their children eat breakfast on the morning of vaccination.
Children not registered at PHCC can get inoculated at any of the 20 private facilities, providing the vaccine for free. MoPH stressed that the huge turn up for vaccine reflected the public awareness about of the importance of vaccinating their children to protect them from infectious diseases. The vaccine is available in all primary healthcare centres in the morning and evenings, HMC outpatient department, Sidra Medical and Research Centre, Qatar Petroleum clinics and 23 private health facilities for free.
Medical teams from MoPH, HMC, Primary Healthcare Corporation visit schools to administer the vaccine. Ambulance services are also made available in case of any emergency situations.
Children can also be vaccinated at the following private clinics: Doha Clinic hospital, El Emadi Hospital, American Hospital, Al Shefa Polyclinic, Aster Medical Centre C Ring road (Al Muntaza), Fetomaternal Medical Center, Al Esraa Polyclinic, Aster Medical Centre Plus, Aster Medical Centre -Alkhor, Al Tai medical center, Syrian American Medical Centre, Family Medical Centre, Al Hayat Medical Centre, Apollo Clinic, Dr Maher Abbas Clinic, Al Mansoor Polyclinic, Dr Bashar Bashar Clinic, AlKayyali Medical Centre, Tadwai Medical Centre, Atlas Medical Centre and Future Medical Centre.
