Third COVID-19 vaccine dose safe and effective: Health official

Third COVID-19 vaccine dose is safer and effective against all strains of the coronavirus, a senior health official has said.

“Recent clinical experiments have shown that the side effects from the third dose are similar or may be less than the side effects after the second dose, so there is no need to worry about taking the booster shot,” said Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19. Speaking in a Qatar TV programme yesterday, Dr. Al Khal urged the people who are eligible for the third dose to take the vaccine on time without hesitation. “Scientific evidence shows that the level of antibodies begins to decrease 8 months after taking the second dose. This is why the Ministry of Public Health decided to give the booster dose.”