BAHRAIN’S top health officials are leading from the front in the battle against Covid-19 by volunteering to take part in vaccine trials.
Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh and Supreme Council for Health chairman Lieutenant Colonel Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa received their first doses at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Sanabis.
They were among scores of people who joined the queues yesterday taking the figure of volunteers to well above 3,000 and the hope is that even more people will step forward.
Other top officials who joined the “#4 Humanity” campaign include Finance Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Electricity and Water Affairs Minister Wael Al Mubarak and his wife, Royal Medical Services commander Major General Professor Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa and his family, King Hamad University Hospital commander Major General Dr Shaikh Salman bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa, Labour Market Regulatory Authority chief executive Ausamah Al Absi and his colleagues, adviser for media affairs at the Crown Prince’s Court Isa Al Hammadi, Ombudsman Correction and Detention Centres director Hamad Salman Taqi, Interior Ministry Protection and Safety Department director Colonel Dr Muhammad Al Bangdir, SMC chief physician Dr Nabil Al Asheeri, MP Ammar Al Bannai and his wife Dr Amal Bouasali, MP Hisham Al Asheeri and Shura Council member Jihad Al Fadhel.
The GDN reported earlier that the randomised trials of Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine, underway in the kingdom since August 10, is targetting 6,000 volunteers.
Many of the volunteers, including senior medics, added their voices to the call for more people to take part in the trials.
Dr Ravi Mohan, a senior resident medic, has also taken part in cancer drug trials in India, and believes it is important and responsible to take part.
The 60-year-old consultant medical oncologist at Salmaniya Medical Complex took his first shot on August 15 and second on September 5.
“Without a vaccine we cannot stop the spread of the virus,” he said.
The trial is randomised and one-third of the volunteers will be administered a placebo.
Dr Hala Radhi Hameed, a 46-year-old ENT specialist, wanted to be a part of the trial since it’s ‘#4 humanity’.
“I wasn’t hesitant at all when I decided to volunteer. I didn’t experience anything specific other than very minor pain at the site of the injection,” she said.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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