Manama: Mahmood Rafique, Editor: Vaccination in Bahrain have proved highest efficacy of 97 per cent by reducing the risks of getting the COVID-19 infections, serious illness and reducing the rate of death due to the infection.
Dr. Lt. Col. Manaf Al Qahtani, Infectious Disease Consultant and Microbiologist at the BDF Hospital and member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), while highlighting the importance of efficacy during the press conference said that vaccination remained a major safeguard against the spread of the virus and serious illness due to the infection.
The National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Wednesday 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 statistics about the efficacy and benefits of the vaccines were based on studies conducted by five groups in Bahrain about the spread of the virus, severity of illness and deaths among those who took vaccine and who didn’t.
Other speakers during the press conference were Dr. Walid Al-Manea, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health; and Dr. Jameela Al Salman-Consultant of Infectious and Internal Diseases at Salmaniya Medical Complex.
Al-Qahtani reviewed some of the results based on a study of the existing cases in the Kingdom of Bahrain since January until now
“It is important to talk about the rates of vaccination effectiveness and the difference between the ratios during clinical studies and on the ground, as the two ratios are correct, but it is important to be aware that the clinical study takes place in a controlled environment in which exposure to external influencing factors is not done,” Al-Qahtani, said.
“The percentage of vaccination effectiveness that is proven on the ground in which the vaccination has been exposed to influencing factors such as failure to take precautions and adherence to precautionary measures, and the results of the effectiveness of vaccinations on the ground are always more important than their results during clinical studies.
“The study, which was conducted of the existing cases in the Kingdom of Bahrain since January until now, concluded in its entirety that it is important to take vaccination for all age groups who meet the conditions, especially the elderly,” Al-Qahtani, said.
“All vaccinations approved in the Kingdom of Bahrain have proven effective in creating immunity that contributes to protecting the individual and immunizing society to get out of this pandemic, and all vaccinations are safe and effective and help reduce the possibility of infection and reduce the severity of symptoms in the event of infection,” he said.
“We ask everyone to turn to vaccination and continue to adhere to the precautionary measures in order to reach the desired goal and eliminate the virus and return life to normal as soon as possible,” Al-Qahtani, said.
“The capacity of the isolation and treatment centers is 6249 beds, of which the occupancy is 3002, which represents 48% of the capacity,” Dr Walid said.
“The number of existing cases for which optional home health isolation was applied reached 7383 cases for lack of symptoms and their conformity with the specified conditions, as for the percentage of those recovering from the total existing cases, it reached 93.7%, while the death rate was 0.36% of the existing cases,” he said.
“The current goal at this stage is to reduce deaths, and those entering hospitals due to the virus and to continue efforts to reduce the number of existing cases, and this goal can be achieved with increasing community immunity through the demand for vaccination,” Al-Mana, said.
“It is also important to adhere to all precautionary measures to limit the spread of the virus, and the importance of continuing to adhere to them in places of worship during the performance of prayers and to adhere to the instructions issued in this regard in a manner that preserves the health and safety of everyone.
“The vaccinations that were approved in the Kingdom of Bahrain by the National Authority for Health Professions and Services, the documents submitted by the manufacturers have undergone extensive studies with the vaccination committee at the Ministry of Health,” he said.
“Statistics for the months of March and April for travelers coming to Bahrain show that the procedures in place for checking travelers upon arrival and on the fifth and tenth day of their arrival and adding a pre-examination certificate (PCR) for those arriving from some destinations give the required levels of safety in this regard,” Dr Walid said.
“The medical team, in cooperation with all concerned authorities, carefully follows up all developments and makes decisions that contribute to achieving the supreme goal of preserving the health and safety of all citizens and residents, and is based in its work on official statistics and audited medical and scientific information.”
“We remind the elderly, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and those with chronic diseases (diabetics, heart, hypertension, obesity, asthma, rheumatism, and people with immunodeficiency, chronic kidney disease and cancer) of the need to take vaccination in a way that contributes to raising their antibodies and strengthening their immune system,” Dr Jameela Al Salman said.
“The vaccinations approved by the Kingdom of Bahrain have proven their effectiveness and contribute to the formation of community immunity, and we call on everyone not to postpone taking the vaccination for any reason, and not to wait for a specific type of vaccination,” she said.
“The effectiveness of the vaccination is by taking the two doses, as the formation of antibodies begins 14 days after the last dose.”
Following the precautionary measures and getting vaccinated will contribute to limiting the spread of the virus and its mutated strains, such as the British, Indian, Brazilian and others
“Various vaccinations provide protection from the Corona virus and the mutated strains from it, and there are many mutations that have occurred to the virus due to external factors, and court studies have not yet proven which strains are the most dangerous because they are in constant change.”
Dr. Jamila Al-Salman reiterates the importance of continuing to adhere to the precautionary measures and preventive measures during the holy month of Ramadan, to be the title of this stage. “We urge everyone to adhere to the national responsibility to limit the spread of the virus and to double everyone’s social responsibility by urging and urging vaccination.
