78.5pc in 12-17 age group vaccinated

BAHRAIN has vaccinated 78.5 per cent of children aged between 12 and 17, according to National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19) monitoring committee head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani.

Of the 81,460 children, only 104 got infected while none required critical care.

Meanwhile, 916 children aged between three and 11, who suffer from underlying health conditions that could weaken their immunity, have been vaccinated – which is 0.5pc of the targeted age group. The category reported no infections so far.

Lt Col Dr Al Qahtani was speaking at a webinar, ‘Implementation of antigen testing to enable safer in-person education’, yesterday showcasing to the world Bahrain’s example of safe reopening of schools.

Bahrain offers Sinopharm to the children and had started vaccinating the 12- to 17-year-olds in May and the three- to 11-year-olds last month.

The GDN reported last week that Bahrain was nearing herd immunity with more than 70pc of the population vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Source: https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/977275