Lack of privileges for unvaccinated people ‘meant for their protection’

Dr Soha al-Bayat on Qatar TV.

Not giving unvaccinated people certain privileges during the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions is not a punishment, but is meant to protect them from infection. This was stressed by Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of Vaccination at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), while speaking to Qatar TV on Monday. Phase 1 of the gradual easing of restrictions came into effect on May 28, giving a number of privileges to people who have taken both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. As more people get vaccinated, reaching around 80% of the eligible population, community protection could be reached and life could go back to normal, she noted. “When we reach a sufficient percentage of vaccine recipients, those who have not yet taken the vaccine will enjoy the same privileges as those fully vaccinated,” Dr al-Bayat said, adding that the difference is that the process of enjoying privileges will be delayed for them until the percentage is reached. She explained that the presence of unvaccinated people in crowds and gatherings of people, especially in closed environments such as restaurants and cafes, expose them to the risk of contracting Covid-19. On the other hand, those fully vaccinated enjoy protection and even if any of them contracted the disease, there will be very mild symptoms with a low probability of complications, which is not the case with people who have not received the two doses of the vaccine as scheduled. Dr al-Bayat added that the privileges enjoyed by fully vaccinated people in Phase 1 are also available to individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 (within a nine-month period) and they can prove their status by downloading a certificate from the MyHealth Patient Portal or by providing any other certificate from approved entities such as a medical report. The official stressed that though taking the vaccine is not compulsory, it is highly advisable for everyone to get inoculated, including those who have recovered from Covid-19, pregnant and breastfeeding women and youngsters aged 12 years and above. Exceptions can be made in certain cases of medical conditions. She said the two doses of the same vaccine should be taken as scheduled to ensure full protection in keeping with the applicable recommendations. Talks on GCC-wide use of Covid app Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of Vaccination at the Ministry of Public Health, yesterday told Qatar TV that discussions are under way among specialists in different GCC countries to have a system by which a Covid-19-related application used in one Gulf country will be valid in any of the other GCC nation as well. This means, for example, a person from Qatar can go to Saudi Arabia with the Ehteraz app and it will be valid for use there, and vice-versa. There will be no need to download a similar local app in this system. However, this issue is still at the discussion stage and no decision has been taken yet, she added.