Vaccines effective in reducing mortality, transmission rates: Dr Al Qahtani

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Vaccinated individuals account for only 2% of the 80,000 active cases traced since January 2021, said a top expert at the BDF Hospital. Dr Lt. Col. Manaf Al Qahtani, an Infectious Disease Consultant & Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital, said vaccinations had reduced the transmission rates and prevented the spread of infection effectively.

Dr Al Qahtani, also a member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), said this is according to the epidemiological data collected from Bahrain for decision making.

The rate of transmission, the doctor said, has decreased among vaccinated individuals from all age groups by an average of 93%.“This also confirms the importance of vaccinating all elderly people,” he stressed.

Vaccination, he said, brought down the likelihood of an infection by 96% for individuals below 50 years of age, 90% for individuals above 50 years of age.

“This is according to a study that took place in Bahrain,” he said. “Approved vaccinations not only reduced transmission rates but also reduced the severity of symptoms for those infected, lowering mortality rates.” Dr Al Qahtani also revealed that the percentage of unvaccinated individuals admitted to intensive is 97% of the 696 cases recorded since January.

He also pointed that unvaccinated individuals accounted for 97% of 273 deaths over the same period.

Dr Al Qahtani called on everyone, especially the elderly, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those with chronic diseases and obesity, to register for a vaccination to protect themselves and others.

The doctor also reiterated the importance of not waiting for a particular vaccine, as the regulatory authorities had approved all vaccines as safe and effective.