Bahrain has reached its target of booster doses of a coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine medical authorities said was needed for the kingdom to step into the “green zone”.

The country reached the goal of 200,000 jabs in 23 days on Tuesday with 200,093 shots being administered which is 78.5 per cent of the estimated number (254,870) of eligible individuals.

The National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19) said last month that it aimed to administer booster doses to 80pc of those eligible – or 200,000 individuals aged 40 and above.

Despite the decision that the “green” level would be activated – in accordance with the four-tier traffic light mechanism adopted to combat the virus – as soon as the target was achieved, the taskforce last week announced that the country will go “green” from September 3.

Bahrain offers a choice of Pfizer/BioNTech and Sinopharm booster shots to people aged 50 and above, who have completed three months after taking the second dose of Sinopharm, while others can take it after six months.

However, the Health Ministry earlier this month reduced the waiting period for boosters to one month for most at-risk people, including adults aged 50 and above, obese, and those suffering from immunodeficiency diseases, as well as frontline medical workers.

Individuals aged above 50 can walk in for a Covid-19 booster jab without prior registration. They can get the jabs from designated halls at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Sanabis.

Meanwhile, the ministry noted that the large turnout of children aged three to 11 for inoculation continues.

The GDN reported last week that registration was open for Sinopharm vaccine to be administered to children in this age group who suffer from underlying health conditions, and for all in the 12-17 age group.

The decision was based on a study that reviewed Covid-19 symptoms in patients suffering from diseases that cause immunity to weaken, such as respiratory diseases, heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, cancerous tumours, Down Syndrome and birth defects.

Registration can be done via the website healthalert.gov.bh.

The country has also announced that registration was open for a booster shot for those who have completed six months after receiving both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccines.

Eligible groups include those aged 60 and above, and those who are immuno-compromised.

In addition, a research that will aim at studying the effectiveness of booster shots for individuals who have received both doses of Sputnik V vaccine is planned.

People who have completed six months after receiving the second dose of the Sputnik V vaccine may take part in the trial by opting for either a Pfizer-BioNTech or a Sputnik V booster shot.

Eligible and interested candidates can register through either the BeAware Bahrain app or via the website, healthalert.gov.bh.

raji@gdn.com.bh

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