EIGHTY per cent of the country’s population eligible for a Covid-19 booster shot have received the third jab, it has emerged.
Official data also revealed that 385 of the most recent cases requiring intensive care treatment were infected with the Delta variant of the coronavirus, while no-one has been critically ill, until date, with Omicron, the rapidly spreading new variant.
Senior medics on the National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 emphasised the effectiveness of booster shots in protecting society from the Omicron variant, while urging members of the public to strictly abide by precautionary measures.
As of Wednesday, 833,318 citizens and residents had received a booster. They are among the 1,176,890 people who have received two doses of a vaccine, accounting for 74 per cent of the estimated 1.5 million population.
“To date, 80pc of those eligible have taken the booster shot, which contributes to protecting society from the new mutant,” said Health Ministry Primary Healthcare Centres chief executive Dr Jaleela Al Sayed.
Dr Al Sayed
“Studies have shown that boosters reduce virus complications in existing cases by confronting mutations.”
Task force monitoring committee head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani echoed her opinion while allaying concerns over Omicron’s rapid spread.
Dr Al Qahtani
“Data based on the number of deaths, existing cases and those requiring hospitalisation and admission to intensive care confirms that the new mutant (Omicron), despite rapidly spreading, has fewer complications compared with the previous mutant, particularly among those who have received booster shots,” the infectious disease consultant at the BDF Hospital said.
“All indicators confirm booster dose is effective even in light of new virus mutations.”
According to the Health Ministry, more than 80pc of cases that required treatment between September and December 2021 as well as six fatalities had not received a booster jab.
Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Waleed Al Manea confirmed that the task force’s decisions were based on public reaction to the pandemic.
“A sense of responsibility and societal awareness complement the decisions made by the relevant authorities to limit the spread of the coronavirus,” he said.
“So adherence to precautionary measures is an important pillar for building on what has already been accomplished.
“Decisions on the traffic light signal system, which determines the closure and opening of various sectors in Bahrain, are based on the daily average number of cases in intensive care – which has not increased in recent days.”
Bahrain is on yellow level until the end of January which Dr Al Manea described as a ‘proactive measure’.
Dr Al Manea
Dr Jameela Al Salman, a senior task force member, explained that the measures taken at various stages of dealing with the virus were based on scientific studies.
“We are closely monitoring global and national developments, particularly in light of the emergence of Omicron,” said the Salmaniya Medical Complex infectious and internal diseases consultant.
“During the peak of the Delta variant infection in the country, there were 385 cases in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, with Omicron, we have had no cases that require treatment in the ICU.
“This confirms that while the new mutant is rapidly spreading, its complications are not as severe as other mutants, particularly among those who received full doses of anti-coronavirus vaccination and booster shots.”
Dr Al Salman
Only one case of Omicron has been officially registered in the country.
All eligible people can get their shots from centres across the country and from mobile units stationed at various locations. Citizens and residents need no prior appointment to avail these jabs. Bahrain provides four free vaccines – Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca-Oxford and Sputnik V – as well as booster shots. It also recently approved a second booster for people over the age of 18 who have already received three doses of Sinopharm; they can choose between Sinopharm and Pfizer-BioNTech.
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