In continuation of the implementation of the national strategy for vaccination against COVID-19, which consists of four phases distributed over the course of this year, the Ministry of Public Health has announced the amendment of the age threshold for priority groups to receive the vaccine. The change means all residents and citizens aged 60 years and above are eligible to receive the vaccine.

Along with the addition of other categories of people with chronic diseases, this step represents a major expansion in the vaccination program, which aims to give priority in providing COVID-19 vaccines to people who are most vulnerable to severe complications related to COVID-19 as well as the main front line workers in certain ministries and government institutions, and to students who received government scholarships and who study abroad. The decision to amend the minimum age comes as part of the first phase of the national plan, which requires the inclusion of younger age groups gradually over the coming weeks.

The Ministry of Public Health also announced that it is launching a new website registration process that will allows citizens and residents to register their desire to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  The new on-line registration form will be available from Sunday, January 17, 2021, and will allow people who meet the requirements for priority groups will be able to request an appointment to receive the vaccine.

People who are not among the priority categories currently listed can also register their desire to receive the vaccine and their details will be saved by MOPH and they will be sent a notification as soon as they become eligible for the vaccine in the future.

Dr Abdullatif Al-Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19 and Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation, said: "The expansion that has begun today in the COVID-19 vaccination program means that we will be able to provide the vaccine to a larger segment of the community, and I invite all people who meet the requirements for vaccination to book appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest opportunity."

"Although this phase of the vaccination program allows us to provide the vaccine to more people, we continue to target the population groups most vulnerable to the health complications  associated with COVID-19 - the elderly and people with  some of the most severe  chronic diseases,  as well as key front-line workers in the health sector and key workers in other public sectors,  including education, which will contribute to ensuring that protection is first provided to those most vulnerable to serious complications from COVID-19.

“In addition to ensuring continuity of work in the essential sectors. Students with government scholarships will be given priority which will allow our students to travel easily and to provide them with the necessary protection against the virus in order to ensure that they do not stop studying."

"This program is the largest vaccination program ever implemented in Qatar, and it is very important at the moment that everyone continues to wear face masks and follow all precautionary measures as we continue to see admissions into hospital and intensive care units due to COVID-19. It is also important that all members of society adhere to the four-stage national vaccination plan against COVID-19 and wait until it is their turn to get the vaccine, given that all individuals aged 16 and over will be covered by the vaccine."

As of today, COVID-19 vaccines will be available in 27 health centers, and the Ministry of Public Health invites all people aged 60 and over and people with severe chronic diseases who are keen to take the vaccine.

For more information, please visit the Ministry of Public Health website for a full list of health centers that provide the COVID-19 vaccine or get general information about the COVID-19 vaccine and the online form for requesting the vaccine.

Registration for COVID-19 Vaccine