Qatar seeking virus jabs for all World Cup visitors
Issued on:
17/04/2021 - 00:22 A man receives a coronavirus vaccine in Doha, on March 31, 2021 Anne LEVASSEUR AFP 3 min
Doha (AFP)
Qatar is in talks with coronavirus vaccine makers to ensure all fans attending the 2022 World Cup in the country have been vaccinated, the foreign minister said Friday.
The Gulf nation is facing a resurgence of virus cases and deaths despite progress in its mass vaccination programme, forcing authorities to impose a nationwide lockdown. We have been negotiating and talking to the vaccination providers on how we can make sure that everyone attending the World Cup is vaccinated, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said.
In the telephonic talk, the two foreign ministers discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan following the announcement by the US to withdraw its forces from the conflict-ridden country.
During the Raisina Dialogue, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani explained that Qatar prepares to host a COVID-free FIFA World Cup.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar spoke at this year’s Raina Dialogue, which was hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, a Doha Forum partner, and in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
The Raisina Dialogue is a multilateral conference committed to addressing the pressing issues and challenges faced by the global community.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s conference was hosted in a hybrid format offering in-person conversations and digital discussions.
April 17, 2021 Share
Qatar is in talks with coronavirus vaccine makers to ensure all fans attending the 2022 World Cup in the country have been vaccinated, the foreign minister said Friday.
The Gulf nation is facing a resurgence of virus cases and deaths despite progress in its mass vaccination programme, forcing authorities to impose a nationwide lockdown.
“We have been negotiating and talking to the vaccination providers on how we can make sure that everyone attending the World Cup is vaccinated,” Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said.
“Right now there are programs under development to provide vaccination to all the attendees of the World Cup,” he added during the Raisina Dialogue, a virtual event hosted by the Observer Research Foundation.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday noted that the shortcomings of the current multilateral system were laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic and asserted that there is no retreat from multilateralism or globalisation. Delivering remarks at the conclusion of the 6th edition of Raisina Dialogue, Shringla said, The broader theme of technology and geo technology ran through the dialogue. How technology can be harnessed to help and not hurt is one of the great questions of the day. Algorithms must help but not harm, transparency is required, forward-looking and positive rules that are congruent with good public policy. The shortcomings of the current multilateral system laid bare by the pandemic evoked discussion. There is no retreat from multilateralism or globalisation. Multilateralism needs to be strengthened, he added.