Half of target vaccine volunteers receive jabs: Health Ministry

TDT | Manama

More than 3,000 volunteers of different ages and nationalities have so far received a dose of the inactivated coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine since the start of phase three clinical trials in Bahrain last month, the Ministry of Health announced yesterday.

The ministry indicated that work is progressing in full swing at Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre to receive volunteers who wish to join the “#4Humanity” campaign. The ministry affirmed the importance of cooperation and participation in supporting national efforts aimed at confronting the COVID-19 pandemic and limiting its spread, and stressed that volunteering is crucial in developing a safe and effective jab that protects society and humanity.

The ministry praised all those who have come forward to date to take part in the trials. It also hailed the efforts of medical and administrative staff who have received the volunteers and conducted medical examinations of them, while providing all the necessary care in monitoring their health and ensuring their safety.

Volunteers are welcome to visit the centre between 8am and 8pm every day as the medical team continues to follow up on applicants, who will need to go through a thorough screening process, as per the approved protocol. The phase three Bahrain trials are being held in collaboration with UAE-based artificial intelligence company G42 Healthcare, and it aims to involve 6,000 citizen and resident volunteers.

The vaccine has been developed by Sinopharm CNBG, the sixth largest producer of vaccines in the world. The Bahrain trials are set to be conducted over 12 months, and they follow the success of the first two phases of clinical trials held across China. The trials are open to interested volunteers above the age of 18, who do not suffer from chronic or underlying conditions.