Dr. Yasmin Ali Murad, Project Manager of COVID-19 National Vaccination Campaign: QNCC receives the public seven days a week

-Less than an hour to complete the procedures and get the vaccine

-Attendance requires having a prior appointment

-More than 500 staff are working to serve the public

-A valid QID and a health card must be presented

-We renew appointments automatically and provide health card renewal service

Work continues at a good pace at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC), the main location for vaccination against COVID-19, which comes within the framework of Qatar's expansion of COVID-19 National Vaccination Program. The new location is under the supervision and management of Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), volunteers from the Qatar Red Crescent (QRC), and the management of QNCC.

In the first vaccination phase, which started last Thursday, the center focused on vaccinating teachers and school staff, in addition to other essential workers and community members who meet the eligibility criteria.

In this regard, Dr. Yasmin, Director of Corporate Project Management Office at PHCC and Project Manager of COVID-19 National Vaccination Campaign, said, “Our work strategy is based on vaccinating the most vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, those with severe chronic conditions, healthcare workers, and other essential workers. The new vaccination location at QNCC will enable us to increase our ability to vaccinate more essential workers and open more opportunities for the public to get vaccinated when it is their turn. For the time being, we urge all people at high risk or those over the age of 60 years and haven’t received the vaccine yet to book an appointment for vaccination by calling the announced numbers or visiting their health centers to get the earliest appointment.”

Attendance at Scheduled Appointments

Dr. Yasmin added, “To ensure the safety of society and a smooth and effective vaccination process, invitations will be sent in a gradual and phased manner to get appointments, where teachers and school staff will receive an SMS inviting them to come to the vaccination center on specific dates. The vaccine will only be given to those who have received an invitation, provided they carry a valid QID and health card when coming to the scheduled vaccine appointment. Others are required to wait until they receive an SMS invitation. We also provided health card renewal service at the center for the convenience of the public and to reduce time and effort.”

Preventive and Precautionary Measures

She further noted that the vaccination process will remain the same, that is, the vaccine will be given in two doses at the vaccination center, with having three weeks between the first and second dose. In addition, visitors are asked to carry the required cards when coming to the scheduled vaccination date and they must continue to follow the preventive and precautionary measures, such as wearing the mask, ensuring hand hygiene, and maintaining a safe distance.

Vaccination protocols

She added that among the protocols for obtaining vaccination at the new center, attendance should be according to the specified time and day, and adherence to all measures taken to ensure smooth and fast progress of work, as the entire time starting from attendance, completion of procedures, getting the vaccination to leaving the place will be in less than one hour. The medical and training staff and the assisting administrative staff have enough experience in making it easier for the public.

There are more than 500 staff per day at the center, and work starts from 7:00am until 10:00pm nonstop, with up to 16 working hours seven days a week to serve approximately 5,000 to 8,000 people according to the capacity of the center. Text messages are sent to them to come to the appointment ahead of time.

Appointment Renewal Mechanism

She also added, “In the event of not attending or attending and leaving the place for any reason without getting the vaccination, we will automatically contact the person and coordinate with him/her to book a new appointment to attend and get vaccinated in an effort to ensure that everyone gets these doses to secure and immunize society against this global pandemic.”