Doha, January 12 (QNA) - The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has launched the annual campaign to vaccinate ninth and tenth-grade students against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) in 2026.
The campaign is held in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), and the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC).
The campaign aims to vaccinate 51,772 male and female students across 278 public, private, and community schools.
In this regard, MoPH and its partners have commenced the campaign activities in schools, and notifications have been distributed to parents to obtain their consent for vaccinating their children.
Director of the Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control Department at MoPH, Dr. Hamad Eid Al Romaihi, affirmed that the vaccination campaign against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis has achieved significant progress since its launch in 2011.
He noted that over the past fifteen years, the National Vaccination Program has succeeded in attaining high and sustainable coverage rates, thanks to the efforts of healthcare professionals, the support of partners, and the cooperation of the community.
He explained that the vaccination campaign falls within the framework of the National Health Strategy (2024-2030), which prioritizes the improvement of population health and well-being, with a focus on health outcomes for individuals and the community.
The campaign includes an awareness program targeting students and parents to correct misconceptions and promote a culture of prevention.
As such, MoPH called on parents to encourage their children to benefit from the vaccination campaign, given its significant role in strengthening their health and protecting them against serious communicable diseases, noting that this booster dose forms part of the essential routine immunizations for adolescents within the national vaccination schedule approved in the State of Qatar.
It is noted that MoPH organized an awareness workshop last Saturday, with the participation of around 240 medical and nursing professionals, aimed at raising school staff's awareness of the importance of vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in preventing these diseases.
The workshop featured scientific lectures on the latest developments related to vaccine administration, along with practical training on managing minor side effects such as fever or localized redness.
Guidance was also provided to parents to ensure safe handling of these symptoms at home. In addition, administrative arrangements were reviewed to ensure the success of the campaign and the achievement of its objectives. (QNA)