Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al
Thani told newspapers that while most countries were expected to have
vaccinated their citizens by then, Qatar was still taking measures to ensure a
successful event.
“We are currently negotiating with a company to provide one
million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in order to immunize and vaccinate some of
those coming to Qatar," he said in remarks also carried by state news
agency QNA late on Sunday, without identifying the firm.
It was not immediately clear how those vaccines would be
offered. Most coronavirus vaccines require two doses administered weeks apart.
Qatari officials had earlier said they hoped to hold a
coronavirus-free tournament and planned to make vaccinations available to
attendees not already immunized.
Qatar is inoculating its citizens and residents with the
Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. It has administered at least 2.8 million
doses, enough to vaccinate about 50.8% of its population, according to a
Reuters COVID-19 tracker.
Sheikh Khalid said the 2021 Arab Cup, which Doha is hosting
in December, would reflect Qatar’s preparedness to host major tournaments.
He said a large number of stadiums had been completed and
work continued on three stadiums including Lusail Stadium, which will host the
final match of World Cup 2022 and was now 90% complete.