Immunization gives more lives and prevents more
diseases than any medical treatment. The vaccines
develop the defence system in your body (immunity)
so that you are protected against diseases. Vaccine
preventable diseases are still the major cause of
morbidity and mortality among children causing
pneumonia, brain damage, choking, heart problems,
paralysis, liver damage etc.
Basic vaccines are given at an early age and each of
them has a specific time for starting eg. MMR
vaccine is not effective till 1 year of age. Each of
the vaccines have to be spaced by a defined interval
to ensure their effectiveness. Hence, the
immunization schedule of Qatar has been prepared
keeping all these issues in mind. The National
Immunization Committee makes changes in the schedule
according to the trends of disease prevalence in the
State of Qatar. A total of 11 different vaccines
were given till 2004 to protect against the major
life threatening diseases of childhood. Recently, in
2005 a 12th vaccine, the Pneumococcal Conjugate
Vaccine, has been added.
Baby Immunization
