Dr. Walid Khalifa Al-Manea, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and a member of the National Task Force to Combat Coronavirus (Covid-19), affirmed that efforts to mitigate Covid-19 will continue according to the plan until the Kingdom achieves its goals, including protection. Public Health.
Despite the gradual return to normal life, Dr. The prevention of falling into a false sense of security by neglecting precautionary measures and not receiving a vaccination or a booster dose.
Dr. Al-Manea called on qualified individuals to register for the vaccination or to obtain a booster dose to achieve optimal immunity and take action against the epidemic.
Al Mana also stated that since October 4, the vaccination status of individuals eligible for a booster dose in the BeAware app has been changed from Green Shield to Yellow Shield so that they can choose to receive a booster dose.
Eligible individuals can register for a vaccine or a booster dose through the BeAware App or by visiting the website www.healthalert.gov.bh.
For his part, Lieutenant-Colonel Dr. Manaf Al-Qahtani, an infectious disease consultant and microbiologist at the Bahrain Defense Force Hospital and a member of the National Medical Task Force to Combat Coronavirus, stated that national medical studies and statistics from July 1 to October 1, 2021, revealed that among those who were infected with COVID- 19, 52% were among those who did not take a booster dose. Only 3% were among those who received a booster dose. So it is clear that booster injections increase immunity.
Dr. Al-Qahtani indicated that the injections were approved for those who are 18 years of age and over, and who received a second dose of the Pfizer Bio-N-Tech vaccine, AstraZeneca (Coveshield) or Sputnik in at least six months ago. Eligible individuals may choose the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, or the same vaccine they received for their first and second doses, as a booster injection.
In addition, those 18 to 39 years old who took the second dose of Sinopharm can take a booster dose three months later, instead of the initial six-month recommendation.
Those 40 years of age or older as well as adults under 40 who are obese, immunocompromised, or have a chronic disease who have received Sinopharm can take a booster dose one month after the second dose. They can also choose the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, or the same vaccine they received for their first and second doses, as a booster shot.
Dr. Al-Qahtani also called on those who have recovered from COVID-19 and received the first shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, to take the second shot by visiting the same vaccination center without having to book an appointment. This follows announced changes to vaccination protocols for eligible individuals.
Recovered individuals can receive two doses of the vaccine three months after the date of infection and take the booster vaccine twelve months after the date of infection.
Dr. Jamila Al-Salman, a consultant in infectious and internal diseases at Salmaniya Medical Complex and a member of the National Medical Task Force to combat the Corona virus, presented the developments of the national vaccination campaign that focuses on vaccinating children. Dr. Al-Salman explained that the successful results achieved so far require commitment and determination to follow all procedures and encourage vaccination and booster dose.
Dr. Al-Salman indicated that there is a high demand for children between the ages of 3 and 11 years who suffer from weak immune systems to take the Sinopharm vaccine, adding that success has been achieved in vaccinating the age group from 12 to 17 years with Sinopharm and Pfizer-BioNtech vaccines.
Dr. Al-Salman urged parents to take the initiative to register their children to receive the vaccination and thanked everyone who took the initiative to register in order to preserve the health of their children and provide them with the necessary immunity to combat the virus.
In conclusion, Dr. Al-Salman stressed the importance of enhanced injections in raising the immune system in the body to alleviate symptoms and complications associated with the virus, which may require treatment, intensive care, or death.
Dr. Al-Salman concluded his speech by noting the importance of adhering to the precautionary measures and decisions announced in schools and educational institutions in order to preserve public health, ensuring the continuation of the recovery phase.
NS