Bahrain's National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19) has stressed on the benefits of vaccines, urging citizens and residents to register for vaccination against the pandemic.

 

At a press conference to provide an update on the kingdom’s Covid-19 response, at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research, Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, Lt Col Manaf Al Qahtani, Infectious Disease Consultant & Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and member of the taskforce, said that vaccines reduce the risk of serious complications associated with Covid-19, including death, and are effective in slowing existing and new variants, a Bahrain News Agency report said.

 

Reviewing recent data, he explained that 1,102 positive vaccinated contacts were mainly asymptomatic or developed mild symptoms, while 26.7% of 8,414 unvaccinated positive contacts developed severe symptoms with 2 deaths recorded, between January 1 2021 and March 11.

 

Dr  Manaf affirmed that the two groups hospitalization rates varied significantly with only 8% of vaccinated individuals admitted to hospital, while the effectiveness of all anti-virus vaccinations in Bahrain, including against mutated viruses, has been confirmed during of January and February, by following up 8,414 cases out of 14,640 existing cases of contacts who received two doses of vaccination, compared to the same number of those who did not receive the vaccination.

 

Dr Manaf added that the kingdom has authorised 5 different vaccines, with high safety and efficacy profiles, to accelerate immunization rates and increase availability, noting that comparing efficacy rates among vaccines can be misleading and should not be a basis for decision-making.

 

Dr. Jameela Al Salman, Consultant of Infectious and Internal Diseases at Salmaniya Medical Complex and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), reaffirmed the importance of taking precautions, and carefully disclosing all information relating to contacts to break the chains of infection.

 

Dr Waleed Khalifa Al Manea, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health and Member of the Covid-19 taskforce, noted that Bahrain is continuing with its mitigation efforts and once again stressed the importance of adhering to precautionary measures, in particular given today’s reduction of restrictions on certain activities.

 

Dr Al Manea acknowledged that Covid-19 vaccines are a pathway to normality and highlighted the National Vaccination Campaign’s success in working with manufacturers to make vaccines available for all citizens and residents free of charge, the most recent success being the delivery of 300,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines.

 

He noted that the kingdom’s vaccine uptake plan is evolving, but remains focussed on reaching vulnerable citizens at greatest risk of developing complications from COVID-19, including those over 70 and those with underlying conditions or with a BMI of 25 and above.