The Prime Minister of Qatar has announced that Doha is seeking to provide 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to fans attending the 2022 World Cup in the country, state media reported on Sunday.
The Gulf country has slowly opened up while continuing its mass vaccination program.
There is “the possibility that some countries may not be able to immunize all of their citizens,” Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani said, according to the official Qatar news agency.
“Qatar will not allow supporters to enter stadiums without being fully vaccinated against the virus,” he said.
“This is why we are currently in negotiations with one of the companies to provide 1 million” doses of COVID-19 vaccines, he added, without citing a company.
“Our main goal in vaccinating some of those who come to Qatar to attend the World Cup is to protect the public health of citizens and residents.”
Sheikh Khalid also said that about 72% of Qatar’s 2.75 million people “will have received at least one dose” of a vaccine within the next week.
Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in April that Doha was in talks with manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure all fans attending the World Cup are vaccinated.
Qatar has so far recorded 220,800 coronavirus cases, including 583 deaths.
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