Green shield stamp of approval: Half a million complete vaccination schedule
MANAMA: Half a million people in Bahrain have so far taken both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and completed the two-week period after the second dose for immunity development, it has been revealed.
This constitutes 44 per cent of population eligible for vaccination, the Health Ministry said last night.
“The high numbers reflect the level of awareness and responsibility among citizens and residents of the importance of vaccination, and its role in supporting national efforts to address the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis,” said a statement.
It also confirms the positive response and interaction with the national vaccination campaign and its goals in immunising society and preserving the safety of everyone, said the ministry.
It indicated that the national campaign aims to vaccinate the largest segment of eligible categories in order to enhance immunity to combat the virus to protect public health and safety.
It stressed the efficacy of various types of vaccines available in Bahrain, stressing the importance of acquired community immunity which contributes to reducing transmission rates and eradicating pandemic.
The GDN earlier reported that the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19) was optimistic of achieving herd immunity (80-90pc of the population) soon, while aiming to fully vaccinate up to 60pc of the adult population by this month-end.
The country offers free Covid-19 vaccination to its people and provides them four choices – Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca- Oxford and Sputnik V.
Those who wish to get vaccinated can register via the BeAware Bahrain app or through the ministry’s website, while the elderly and those with chronic conditions need no prior registration.
All those who have received two doses of a vaccine and have completed two weeks after the second dose received a ‘Green Shield’ which is displayed on the BeAware Bahrain app, making them eligible for a number of privileges as Bahrain is set to ease Covid-19 restrictions next week.
Bahrain yesterday reported 1,450 new cases of Covid-19 – the highest in a single day – alongside 1,034 recoveries and two fatalities. Two Bahraini women, aged 94 and 71, died yesterday, taking the death toll to 664. Of the new cases, 528 were expat workers, 903 contacts of local cases and 19 travel-related. Of the 11,780 active cases, 204 are receiving treatment and 101 in critical condition. Bahrain has so far registered a total of 183,330 cases. The kingdom has also conducted 4,172,056 tests.
