Bahrain recieves 300,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China: Health Minister

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain yesterday received 300,000 doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine from China, said the Minister of Health.

Faeqa bint Saeed Alsaleh said the jabs arrived in the Kingdom yesterday morning on a cargo-only flight operated by the Gulf Air.

The shipment, Al Saleh said, is the largest ever COVID-19 vaccine shipment received by Kingdom.

To date, the Kingdom has vaccinated 312,104 individuals.

“The Kingdom is mobilising all its resources to safeguard public health by making available vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation and the National Health Regulatory Authority,” the minister said.

COVID-19 vaccines are administered free of cost to citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Alsaleh expressed her appreciation for the support extended by HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The minister also thanked the Ambassador of China to Bahrain, Dr An Wa’er, for helping Bahrain secure the vaccines amid supply constraints.

The Ambassador welcomed the heightened cooperation between the two nations in addressing the global spread of the virus and underlined China’s commitment to meet Bahrain’s vaccine demands as part of bilateral cooperation.

Gulf Air said it had redesigned its onboard experience to ensure passengers’ safety and is helping citizens and residents as part of the International COVID-19 Repatriation Programme (ICRP).

Gulf Air has also encouraged its employees to register for the COVID-19 vaccines, which remain optional and free of charge for all citizens and residents.

To date, over 85% of the airline’s flight crew got inoculated against the pandemic.