Ministry of Public Health includes shingles vaccine in National Immunisation Programme

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health has announced the inclusion of the shingles vaccine in the National Immunisation Programme. The vaccine is...

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health has announced the inclusion of the shingles vaccine in the National Immunisation Programme. The vaccine is administered in two doses, given two to six months apart, for individuals over the age of fifty as well as adults aged 19 and above who suffer from immune-related conditions or chronic illnesses.

The vaccine will be available at all Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) centres. Eligible individuals can receive the vaccine by visiting any PHCC centre without the need for an appointment.

The Ministry of Public Health stressed that adding the shingles vaccine to the national immunisation schedule, as part of the list of recommended vaccines, reflects its ongoing commitment to protecting the population of Qatar from infectious diseases and reducing their health impact. It also highlights the Ministry’s focus on continuously updating its recommendations and policies related to disease prevention, whether through revising regulations and preventive guidelines or by adding the latest vaccines to the National Immunisation Programme.

The Ministry added that this vaccine has been approved by numerous international health organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in recognition of its high efficacy in preventing shingles, reducing the risk of infection among adults, and lowering the likelihood of complications in those already affected. It is also noted for its strong safety profile and very limited side effects.

The Ministry of Public Health further noted that this effective vaccine has recently been incorporated into national immunisation schedules in more than 45 countries worldwide. It is well established that the vaccine plays a key role in preventing shingles and its complications. In addition, a training workshop will be organised for healthcare professionals in both the public and private sectors to ensure maximum benefit from the vaccine and to promote best practices in its administration.