Bahrain among the first countries to receive Covid-19 vaccine

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain would be among the first countries in the world to provide the Covid-19 vaccines as soon as the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) and international health organisations accredit it, announced BDF Hospital Infectious Diseases Consultant and Microbiologist Dr Manaf Al Qahtani.

He said that concerned authorities had drawn up plans to provide the vaccine to citizens and residents easily and conveniently and in accordance with the best global health practices in this field.

In accordance to the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, proactive plans to deal with the virus since the announcement of its global outbreak have been put in place.

Dr Al Qahtani, also member of the National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19, said that all capabilities and resources have been harnessed to address the pandemic in a way that preserves the health and safety of citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

He said that the National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19, chaired by Supreme Council for Health (SCH) President Lieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa, is kept up-to-date with developments in coronavirus vaccines to take the necessary proactive steps.

He said that Bahrain made an order last August to purchase more than 1 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccines being developed by BioNTech and Pfizer; British firm AstraZeneca and the Chinese Sinopharm.

The Kingdom of Bahrain, in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates, participated in the Phase 3 clinical trial for a potential Covid-19 vaccine, being developed by Sinopharm.

Dr Qahtani said that the National Taskforce made the selection of the aforementioned vaccines for Combating Covid-19 after following up on the developments vaccine trials in the world.

He said that Bahrain is in continued contact with the other medical first which are developing the potential Covid-19 vaccine.