MANAMA: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: As the mutated virus of the COVID-19 is rapidly spreading, getting a jab of five vaccine available across the Kingdom of Bahrain can provide vital safeguards against the spread of the virus, critical illness and deaths due to the infection.
This came as the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Sunday held a press conference to provide an update on the Kingdom’s COVID-19 response, at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research, Bahrain Defence Force Hospital.
“The effectiveness of all anti-Coronavirus vaccinations was proven in Bahrain, including the mutated viruses, during the last months of January and February, by following up 8414 cases out of 14,640 existing cases of contacts who received two doses of vaccination, compared to the same number of those who did not receive the vaccination,” said, Lt. Col. Manaf Al Qahtani, the Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and member of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
“The rate of spread of the virus, transmission of infection, severity of the virus and death is more among individuals who have not been vaccinated,” said Dr. Al-Qahtani, adding that Among the benefits of taking anti-virus vaccinations is to prevent infection or death from the virus, reduce the severity of symptoms associated with it in the few cases that may be infected with it, and reduce the rate of transmitting the virus to others compared to the non-vaccinated.”
“Among the benefits of taking vaccinations is to increase the number of community members immunized from infection with the virus, which slows its spread and contributes to collective immunity, and prevents the Corona virus from spreading and replicating, which are the two processes that allow it to form a mutation and continue to mutate and spread. Antibodies represent only one arm of the immune response, and there are at least three other arms of the immune system that can ward off disease,” Dr. Al Qahtani, said.
“There are many types of vaccinations available in the Kingdom and the approvals of these vaccines is based on scientific foundations and it is not intended to compare the effectiveness rate. Rather, it comes with the aim of delivering it to the largest possible number of the community in a record time to contribute to the formation of collective immunity with safety and effectiveness that contribute to the gradual return to life before the Corona pandemic,” Dr. Al Qahtani, said, while elaborating on the availability vaccinations in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“The approval of vaccinations is based on extensive and in-depth studies carried out by the National Authority for Regulating Professions and Health Services with the participation of the Clinical Research Committee and the Vaccination Committee at the Ministry of Health,” Dr Al Qahtani, said.
“The vaccinations are provided free of charge to citizens and residents, and several types of vaccinations were also approved, and the number of vaccinations has reached five so far. This is imperative for all eligible age categories to get vaccinated at the earliest. The community co-operation at this stage will help to overcome the situation,” Dr Al Qahtani, added.
“We stress the need to continue cautiously and adhere to procedures after taking the anti-Coronavirus vaccination, and we reiterate the importance of continuing to adhere to all precautionary measures and instructions issued in a way that contributes to supporting national efforts to address the pandemic,” Dr. Al Qahtani said.
“The existing vaccinations provide an immune barrier against the existing strains and help the immune system to attack different parts of the Corona virus, and even if mutations occur, vaccinations remain in place with their auxiliary action for the immune system,” he said.
“We invite everyone to take the initiative and register via the Ministry of Health website and this is important for pregnant and lactating women to take the vaccination because they are among the most vulnerable groups in light of the rapid spread of the mutated virus, and studies have shown the safety of the two vaccines (Sinopharma) and (Pfizer and Biontec) for this group according to the recommendations issued by the advisory group on vaccines in the vaccination committee in Bahrain,” he said.
“Based on local studies, it has been proven that all vaccinations authorized in the Kingdom are effective, as it was found through the group in question that all vaccinations have an effectiveness in protection and formation of immunity, and therefore I invite everyone not to wait for a specific company vaccination to become available, but to take what is available from it,” he said.
