90% of eligible population in Bahrain are vaccinated

Bahrain has inoculated more than 90 per cent of its eligible population with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to a top medic.

National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19) monitoring committee head Dr Manaf Al Qahtani noted that the country ranked third globally in terms of vaccination rates.

The BDF Hospital infectious diseases consultant and microbiologist was speaking at a Press conference held remotely from the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research, Riffa yesterday.

Also present were Health Ministry public health assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Hajeri, taskforce senior member Dr Jameela Al Salman and Education Ministry’s human resources assistant under-secretary Dr Mohammed Jumaa.

“Today Bahrain is among the top countries (in terms of vaccination against Covid-19) – we stand third in the world and we have reached 91pc of our people vaccinated with at least one dose of a vaccine,” said Lt Col Dr Al Qahtani.

This estimates Bahrain’s vaccine eligible population at 1.26 million, which include all aged above 12 and children aged three to 11 who suffer from underlying health conditions.

As of Tuesday Bahrain had vaccinated 1,146,939 people with one dose and 1,088,446 with two doses, which accounts for 86pc of the eligible population.

Lt Col Dr Al Qahtani repeated a call for people to get their jabs, underlining the importance of booster doses in contributing to personal and societal immunity.

He said national studies and indicators have furthermore indicated the importance of booster jabs in enhancing the immunisation of society.

“In Bahrain, we saw 79 per cent of the deaths in June were among those who were unvaccinated, and this was a period when we saw the spread of the Delta variant in the country.

“After the cases spiked in May and June, we took steps based on data that showed the efficiency of booster doses.”

He referred to a Bahrain study in collaboration with Columbia University, published by Research Square, titled ‘Morbidity and mortality from Covid-19 post-vaccination breakthrough infections in association with various Covid-19 vaccines and the emergence of variants in Bahrain’.

The study reiterated that getting inoculated against Covid-19 was an effective strategy to reduce the risk of infection and its consequences, especially among the elderly.

Meanwhile, Dr Al Hajeri said vaccination would help in preserving the progress that has been achieved in tackling the infection spread. “Studies have shown the effectiveness of the booster doses in enhancing immunity, and we call on all eligible people to register for it.”

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