Official appeals unvaccinated older people in Qatar to take vaccine

Doha: Dr Hanadi Al Hamad, who is the National Health Strategy 2018-2022 Lead for Healthy Ageing, is stressing the importance of the last remaining unvaccinated older people in Qatar acting now to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Dr Al Hamad’s message comes amid the presence in Qatar of the highly contagious delta variant that poses a serious threat to people who are not vaccinated, especially for older people with other health conditions.

"Similar to most countries around the world, the delta variant is now prominent in Qatar. This particular virus is more contagious and causes more severe symptoms than other strains, which is especially risky for our elderly population who are more at risk due to physiological changes that come with ageing and potential underlying health conditions," said Dr. Al Hamad. "Our records show that the majority of hospital admissions for people over 65 are of individuals who are not fully vaccinated. It is so important that people understand that COVID-19 can be a dangerous illness, particularly for older people. It is even more dangerous for those who have other medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, that affect the bodys natural ability to fight infections," added Dr. Al Hamad.