Vaccination Rates In Bahrain: High Coverage, Low Hesitancy

Bahrain has been a leader in COVID-19 vaccination efforts, with a high percentage of its population vaccinated against the virus. In this paragraph, we will explore the vaccination rates in Bahrain, the measures taken to achieve these rates, and the impact of vaccination on the country's COVID-19 situation. As of June 2021, over half of Bahrain's population was fully vaccinated, and the country ranked highly in global vaccination rates per 100 people. Bahrain's success in vaccination can be attributed to its early approval of the Pfizer vaccine, easy accessibility of vaccines, and the use of technology such as the BeAware app for registration and tracking.

Bahrain's high vaccination rate

Bahrain has achieved notable success in its COVID-19 vaccination efforts, with a high percentage of its eligible population receiving the vaccine. As of March 2022, 96% of the eligible population had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 84% had received a booster dose. This high vaccination rate is a result of Bahrain's diligent leadership and effective response to the pandemic.

Bahrain was one of the first countries to approve the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which contributed to its early vaccination efforts. The country also offered cost-free and easily accessible vaccines to its citizens, providing a choice of four different vaccines: Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca-Oxford, and Sputnik V. As of June 2021, Bahrain had administered nearly two million doses, with more than half of its population fully vaccinated.

The country's commitment to adhering to health guidelines and ensuring vaccine accessibility has been crucial in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Bahrain has also utilized technology to its advantage, developing the BeAware app, which allows citizens to register for vaccines, track their status, and present their official vaccination status to authorities. This digital vaccine passport app has been recognized as a innovative tool in the global pandemic response.

The high vaccination rate in Bahrain has been a key factor in protecting its population from critical illness due to COVID-19. As of February 2023, 94% of patients in critical care for coronavirus infection were unvaccinated, highlighting the effectiveness of the vaccines. The country's rapid and comprehensive pandemic response, including free PCR tests, treatment for those infected, and travel restrictions, has been commended by healthcare professionals and contributed to the successful mitigation of the virus's spread and impact.

The success of Bahrain's vaccination campaign is evident in its ranking as one of the top 10 most vaccinated countries in the world. Bahrain's proactive approach to vaccine accessibility, utilization of technology, and diligent leadership have resulted in high vaccination rates, protecting its citizens and mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Percentage of the population vaccinated

Bahrain has been a leader in COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the Middle East, with a high percentage of its population vaccinated. As of June 2021, more than half of Bahrain's population was fully vaccinated, with 50.55% of citizens vaccinated as of June 12, 2021. By June 14, 2021, Bahrain had administered 1.9 million COVID-19 doses and fully vaccinated almost 870,000 people. This placed Bahrain second in the world for vaccination rates per 100 people and 13th in the world for total vaccinations, despite its smaller population.

Bahrain was also one of the first countries to approve the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, aiding in its high vaccination rates. In December 2020, Bahrain became the second country to officially approve the Pfizer vaccine, after the UK. As a result, Bahrain was able to administer doses early on, vaccinating a higher percentage of its population earlier in the pandemic.

Bahrain has made vaccines easily accessible to its citizens by offering them for free and allowing citizens to choose which vaccine to receive. As of March 2023, Bahrain offers four vaccine options: Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca-Oxford, and Sputnik V. Citizens can register for vaccines and track their status using the BeAware Bahrain app. As of March 2023, 82% of the Bahraini population had received two doses of the vaccine, and 85% of the eligible population had received a booster dose.

The country's diligent vaccination efforts have been recognised internationally. In March 2022, it was announced that 96% of the eligible population had received two doses of the vaccine, and 84% had received a booster dose. Bahrain's successful COVID-19 mitigation efforts were also highlighted at the Harvard COVID-19 International Symposium, where international healthcare professionals from Pfizer, Google, and Meta joined Bahraini healthcare specialists to discuss pandemic learnings.

Booster shots

Bahrain has been a leader in COVID-19 vaccination efforts, with a high percentage of its eligible population vaccinated against the virus. The country has also been proactive in offering booster shots to its citizens to enhance their protection against the disease.

In January 2022, Bahrain announced that citizens and residents would soon be eligible to receive a third 'booster' dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This booster shot was to be administered to those who had completed both primary doses of a vaccine, within a span of six to twelve months. The booster programme aimed to provide additional protection to the population, particularly those most vulnerable to the virus.

The booster shots were offered to individuals who had previously received the Sinopharm vaccine. Eligible recipients of the booster shots included first responders, people aged over 50, and those suffering from obesity, weak immunity, or pre-existing health conditions. By offering booster shots, Bahrain sought to mitigate recent COVID-19 surges and provide extra protection to those at higher risk of severe disease.

The country has made vaccines easily accessible by providing multiple vaccine options, including Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca-Oxford, and Sputnik V. Bahrain was also one of the first countries to create a digital vaccine passport app, called BeAware, which allows citizens to register for vaccines, track their vaccination status, and present verifiable proof of vaccination to authorities.

As of March 2023, 85% of the eligible population in Bahrain had received a booster dose, contributing to the country's high vaccination rates and successful COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Free vaccines for citizens

Bahrain has been offering free COVID-19 vaccines to all its citizens and residents since December 2020. The vaccines are administered through 27 medical centres to those over 18 years of age, with a capacity of 5,000 vaccinations per day. The country has also been offering free PCR tests and treatment for those infected with COVID-19.

Bahrain was one of the first countries to provide access to all FDA-approved vaccines, including Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca-Oxford, and Sputnik V. The country has been witnessing an increase in positive cases, crossing the 1,000-mark on 18 March 2024, with the National Taskforce for Combating COVID-19 optimistic about achieving herd immunity soon.

As of November 2024, 44% of the population eligible for vaccination had received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 85% of the eligible population had received a booster dose. Bahrain's successful COVID-19 mitigation was highlighted at the Harvard Symposium, where international healthcare professionals from Pfizer, Google, and Meta joined Bahraini healthcare specialists to discuss pandemic learnings.

The country's rapid and comprehensive pandemic response, including the provision of free vaccines, was cited as a key factor in its success. As of March 2023, over 82% of the Bahraini population had received two doses of the vaccine.

Percentage of critical cases unvaccinated

As of September 2022, 80% of critical Covid-19 cases in Bahrain were unvaccinated. This figure had risen to 94% by November 2024.

On one day in 2022, 78% of cases were recorded in people who had not yet received a vaccination. Of the 1,706 cases recorded on that day, 1,331 had not been vaccinated, and of the 119 patients under critical care, 112 were unvaccinated.

The National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 has emphasised that "a high percentage of active coronavirus cases in Bahrain are people who are not vaccinated". The task force has appealed to the public to follow guidelines and get vaccinated, stating that "following precautionary measures and getting vaccinated reduces infection rates".

Bahrain has offered free Covid-19 vaccinations to its citizens, including Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca-Oxford, and Sputnik V. As of March 2023, over 82% of the Bahraini population had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, and 85% of the eligible population had received a booster dose.

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