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COVID-19 vaccines will soon be administered through private healthcare facilities in the country.
Major private hospitals have been asked for their readiness to stock and deliver the two coronavirus vaccinations approved in Bahrain.
Details of the ministerial edict were published in the Official Gazette. Once rolled out, patients who wish to get the vaccine immediately rather than wait for an appointment as part of the national rollout, will be able to do so by paying a ‘minimum service fee’.
The current system of free vaccinations through 27 health centres and the King Hamad University Hospital will continue for those who register on the ministry’s website and wait to be contacted.
According to the Gazette dated January 14, the resolution (No 6 for 2021), followed a presentation by the Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Waleed Al Manea.
“The resolution by the country’s Health Minister (Faeqa Al Saleh) approved vaccinations to be administered from private healthcare facilities in Bahrain and the methods for preserving it, ways to document its information and the conditions that the facilities must have in order to get an approval for the provision,” said the Gazette.
“It is based on the presentation of the Health Ministry Under-Secretary.”
The edict under three articles decided and announced the vaccinations approved in Bahrain, requirements for preserving the vaccinations and documenting its information and the conditions stipulated for health facilities which wish to provide vaccination services.
“The ministry’s Public Health Department will periodically evaluate these (approved) healthcare facilities in accordance with the Public Health Law of 2018.
To date, Bahrain has vaccinated more than 141,000 individuals since December 17, with a million doses being ordered from Chinese Sinopharm and Pfizer-BioNTech.
ChoiceThe country offers free vaccine to its population with a choice of the available two, although supplies of Pfizer-BioNTech have been disrupted, as reported in the GDN.
Two others – AztraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson – are also under consideration to help in the battle against the virus.
The Gazette further elaborated that the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) will monitor the facilities that are approved to administer vaccinations and has been given the legal authority to take action against any violators.
A number of conditions are stipulated for private healthcare facilities such as providing a suitable storage provision for the vaccines.
“The facility should have a dedicated refrigerator, which should not be used to store water or food of any kind,” said the document.
“This refrigerator must be kept away from sunlight and must have a thermostat that regulates the temperature.“
The temperature must be maintained between two and eight degrees always and must be recorded daily.
“The freezing chain while transporting the vaccine (from the ministry to the storage) must be maintained.”
Once the centres are ready and able to fulfil the conditions, they can approach the public health directorate for approval, and will be subsequently contacted from the evaluation department for further procedures.
“Once approved the facilities must inform the NHRA on the vaccinations being added to its stock,” said the Gazette.
“The facilities cannot import or directly purchase any vaccines from the manufacturer. The details of the vaccines – name, expiry date, condition of the vial, and activation number – must be recorded.
“The facilities cannot sell or distribute the vaccines and employees cannot take them home.
“The facility is only permitted to inject the vaccine and cannot administer a vaccine that is brought in by individuals.”
AdministerBahrain is ranked No 2 in the world for having vaccinated the most of its population in terms of per capita. The country granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine last month, becoming the second country after Britain to approve it, after it had approved Sinopharm’s vaccine in November for use by frontline workers.
Bahrain also successfully conducted a Phase Three trial of Sinopharm with 7,700 volunteers taking part.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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