Bahrain vaccination campaign paying off

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is making massive strides in its national vaccination campaign following a reduction of coronavirus transmission rates among all age groups by an average of 93%.

Health Ministry Undersecretary Dr Waleed Khalifa Al Manea highlighted the success of the Kingdom’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus during yesterday’s press conference organised by the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Dr Al Manea, a task force member, noted that the Kingdom has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world today. The task force emphasised that the procedures put in place for arriving travellers from certain destinations to provide a PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) certificate will support mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and will ensure the safety of citizens and residents.

The procedures are regularly reviewed and altered based on scientific data presented and developments on the virus. Dr Al Manea highlighted the Kingdom’s thorough mitigation efforts, adding that capacity across hospitals is always reviewed to ensure medical services are not affected, given that COVID-19-related medical care, including examinations, isolation, treatments, and vaccinations, is free to all.

In March and April, only 2% of existing cases are travel-related, which indicates that mandatory procedures put in place for incoming travellers to take PCR tests upon arrival, as well as on the fifth and tenth day of stay, are effective.

Dr Al Manea called on citizens and residents to register for the first available COVID-19 vaccine appointment, adding that all vaccines are safe and effective. Another task force member, Lt. Col. Dr Manaf Al Qahtani, said that despite the presence of mutated strains of the virus, vaccines have provided immunity and have protected individuals by relieving symptoms.

A study showed an increase in the percentage of existing cases among those who were not vaccinated, compared to a small percentage of those who are fully vaccinated and had completed 14 days since the last dose.

Dr Al Qahtani explained that the number of existing cases that have been admitted to intensive care since January 2021 has reached 631 cases, of which 612 cases have not been vaccinated, or 97% of the total cases.

The study also revealed that 273 deaths have been recorded, since January 2021 of which 265 cases had not been vaccinated, or 97% of the total cases.

Dr Al Qahtani noted that these statistics show the importance of vaccines in immunising the community, reducing mortality rates and the number of critical cases by a very large percentage.