Are you visiting Qatar for the first time? If so, you should be aware that as a general rule, not just travelling to Qatar but anywhere in the world, you should be vaccinated at least a month before. That is according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s because once you receive the vaccination shot, it takes time for your body to build an immunity. Also, some vaccinations need time to complete the required doses.
In travelling to Qatar, you do need to have some specific vaccinations according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC. The following is a list of the infections you need to be vaccinated for.
Before Traveling to Qatar, Here are the Vaccinations You Need
1. Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver infection which is caused by the Hepatitis A virus. It is a highly contagious disease, and can be obtained from food and water. The WHO and CDC recommends that this vaccination should be done by most of the travelers going to Qatar.
2. Hepatitis B
Like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B is a viral infection to the liver. It may cause acute and chronic disease, and it is primarily transmitted through contact with bodily fluids like blood, or through a delivery by a mother to her child.
3. Typhoid
Typhoid fever is caused by a bacteria Salmonella typhi and leads to diarrhea, high fever and vomiting. It is often transmitted through contaminated food and water. Typhoid shots can last as long as two years, but if you take the oral version of the vaccine, it will last 5 years.
4. Rabies
Rabies is another viral disease. It causes the brain to be inflammed, and can be obtained from the saliva of infected animals. Vaccination may not be required for all travelers to Qatar, but authorities will assess where you are going, what activities you will be doing, and how long you will be staying in Qatar, to determine if you need this vaccination.
5. Anthrax
Anthrax is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. This disease is not contagious, but you can get it if you are in close contact with animals that have the disease. Spores get in your body through breathing, eating or drinking, and these spores multiply inside, causing you to get flu-like symptoms, mild chest discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, etc.
6. Polio
Polio, or short for poliomyelitis, is a disease that is caused by the poliovirus. It is highly contagious through person-to-person transmission. The two vaccines you can get to avoid polio are the Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV), which is injected in the arm or the leg, and the Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV), which is commonly used around the globe. Majority of the people who get the poliovirus actually don’t get any symptoms. Twenty five percent get flu-like symptoms, but a smaller percentage of people get the most debilitating symptoms like paralysis, meningitis and the feeling like there are pins and needles in your legs. If you come from a country with polio transmission, then the authorities will require you to have a vaccination before entering Qatar.
As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc around the world, the best hope we have is to have a vaccine against it. Through vaccination, we can make our immune system even more ready to fight these harmful viruses and bacteria.