Bahrain ‘fourth in approving Covid-19 vaccines’

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Having approved eight vaccines to be administered to the public in its battle against Covid-19 vaccine, Bahrain now stands fourth along with Botswana, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Vietnam in the matter of giving nod to different anti-Covid vaccines.

India and Mexico, which have approved 10 anti-Covid vaccines top the list. The two countries are followed by Argentina, Nepal, Moldova, Hungary and Ecuador with each of them approving nine different vaccines. The Daily Tribune, a few days ago, quoted National Health Regulatory Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Mariam Al Jalahma, who attributed the success in the fight against the virus to the remarkable feat achieved on the vaccination front.

Bahrain became the first country in the world to authorise, receive and administer Valneva’s Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by the French biotech major. Two days ago, the Minister of Health, Faeqa Al Saleh, received the shipment of the Valneva VLA2001 COVID-19 vaccine, delivered by the Ambassador of the French Republic to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Jerome Cauchard. Al Saleh commended the co-operation between the two countries in the healthcare field.

The minister also expressed her appreciation for the depth of relations and mutual interest between the two countries, especially in the healthcare sector. Earlier this month, the chairman of the Supreme Council of Health, Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, delivered a keynote address Harvard COVID-19 International Symposium, held in Manama, during which he highlighted Bahrain’s rapid and comprehensive pandemic response.

Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed cited His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s leadership as being crucial to the success of Bahrain’s public health response. Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohammed detailed the strategies that Bahrain employed to mitigate the spread and impact of the virus. The measures implemented included the provision of free PCR tests, treatment for those infected, and vacations for both citizens and residents.

Bahrain was one of the first countries to provide access to all FDA approved vacations, with other effective vaccines, such as Sinopharm, also being made available. Elsewhere, most entry restrictions for those arriving in Bahrain have been removed and Bahrain International Airport is in the process of introducing a dedicated medical protocol for COVID-19 cases.

Multi-lingual media strategy

A robust multi-lingual media strategy underpins Bahrain’s public awareness campaign, which delivers regular pandemic developments, reiterates the necessity of following restrictions, and promotes getting vaccinated.

Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist at the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Lt Col Dr Manaf Al Qahtani, and Infectious and Internal Diseases Consultant at Salmaniya Medical Complex, and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Dr Jameela Al Salman; and CEO of Primary Healthcare Centers, and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Dr Jaleela Al Sayed Jawad highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts in the battle against the pandemic.

Highlighting the Kingdom’s strides in this regard, Harvard University spokesperson Marcia Castro said, “Bahrain is a country that is pre-emptive rather than reactive with over 82 per cent of the Bahraini population having received two doses of the vaccine, and 85pc of the eligible population having received a booster dose.”