A senior public health official has called upon the last remaining unvaccinated older people in Qatar to get vaccinated soonest.

Qatar’s National Health Strategy 2018-2022 Lead for Healthy Ageing, Dr Hanadi Al Hamad has asked older citizens and residents to act now to protect themselves from the virus.

Dr Al Hamad’s message comes in light of the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, which has made its way to the country and poses a serious threat to unvaccinated individuals.

"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 aging and potential underlying health conditions," Dr Al Hamad said.

"Our records show that the majority of hospital admissions for people over 65 are of individuals who are not fully vaccinated,” the health official highlighted.

She added that it is highly 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 body’s natural ability to fight infections,” Dr Al Hamad said.

Among some of the age-related barriers to getting vaccinated are: fear of potential adverse reactions, confusion about a vaccine's risk status and underestimation of the seriousness of the disease.

To address older people's concerns, Hamad Medical Corporation is providing professional advice via its Elderly Telephone Reassurance Service to the remaining unvaccinated members of the population aged 65 and above.

The Department of Geriatrics and Long-Term Care’s experienced staff are again contacting patients or caregivers to explain the importance of being vaccinated.

"We sometimes get families asking why their father or mother, who is perhaps over 80 years old and homebound, should get vaccinated and whether it is even safe for them given their frail state,” Dr Al Hamad mentioned.

“Our answer is that even if you don’t go out much, you can still get infected through friends, family or other people in your household. It is important for older people to engage in family life but it is better for them to first have the added protection that this vaccine brings," she said.

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Source: QNA