Bahrain's Best Covid-19 Vaccines: A Comparative Analysis

Bahrain was one of the first countries to approve a Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) granting approval days before. The Sinopharm vaccine was approved by the two Arab nations despite a lack of public data on its safety and efficacy. Bahrain also offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to F1 personnel and media attending pre-season testing and the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020, and later announced it would offer booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine to those already fully immunized with the Sinopharm vaccine.

Bahrain's COVID-19 vaccination programme

Bahrain has been proactive in its approach to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic since the announcement of its global outbreak. The country's National Taskforce for Combating COVID-19 has been kept up to date with developments in coronavirus vaccines to ensure necessary proactive steps are taken.

Bahrain was among the first countries in the world to provide vaccines to its citizens and residents, following the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. The country made an order for over 1 million doses of the vaccines being developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, the British firm AstraZeneca, and China's Sinopharm.

The Sinopharm vaccine was the first to be approved in Bahrain, with the country granting full approval to sell the vaccine. The vaccine was deemed 86% effective, though there was a lack of public data on its safety and efficacy. Bahrain also participated in the Phase 3 clinical trial for the potential Sinopharm vaccine.

However, due to concerns over the effectiveness of the Sinopharm vaccine, Bahrain announced its decision to offer booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those already fully immunized with the Chinese-made vaccine. Vulnerable individuals, including those who are obese, over 50, or have long-term illnesses, are being urged to get a Pfizer booster shot six months after their last Sinopharm inoculation.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was also offered as a voluntary vaccination to F1 personnel and media attending pre-season testing and the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020.

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been approved for emergency use in Bahrain, making it the second country in the world to approve the vaccine after the United Kingdom. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is recommended for people over 50, the obese, and people with weakened immune systems. The vaccine was granted approval by the National Health Regulatory Authority of the Kingdom of Bahrain following a thorough analysis and review of all available data. Dr. Mariam Al Jalahma, CEO of Bahrain's National Health Regulatory Authority, stated that the approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will add a further important layer to the Kingdom's national COVID-19 response.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is an mRNA vaccine that contains a piece of genetic code that trains the immune system to recognize the spike protein on the surface of the virus. This is different from the Sinopharm vaccine, which is an "inactivated" shot made by growing the whole virus in a lab and then killing it. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is administered in two doses, 21 days apart.

In June 2021, Bahrain began offering a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for some people who had previously received two shots of the Sinopharm vaccine. This decision came as the country struggled through its worst wave of the coronavirus, despite being one of the top countries in the world in per-capita inoculations. The government's BeAware mobile phone app allows residents of Bahrain to register for booster shots of either the Pfizer or Sinopharm vaccines.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has played a crucial role in Bahrain's national COVID-19 response, providing an additional layer of protection for its citizens and helping to slow the spread of the virus. The approval and distribution of the vaccine have been carefully evaluated and managed by the country's National Health Regulatory Authority to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the vaccination program.

Sinopharm vaccine

The Sinopharm vaccine was approved for registration in Bahrain in December 2020. The country's National Health Regulatory Authority did not specify which of the two vaccines being developed by Sinopharm at the time had been given the go-ahead, but it cited data from Phase III clinical trials that showed an 86% efficacy rate. Bahrain had participated in these trials, and the vaccine had previously been authorised for emergency use for frontline professionals.

Bahrain's Ministry of Health stated that citizens and residents above 18 years of age could register online to receive the vaccine for free. However, it was unclear whether the approval for registration meant that the vaccine would be available to the general public.

Despite high levels of inoculation with the Sinopharm vaccine, Bahrain started offering booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to vulnerable individuals in May 2021. This decision was made due to concerns about the effectiveness of the Sinopharm vaccine, as a study by Bahrain and Columbia University researchers found it to be less effective than other vaccines at preventing infection, hospitalisation, and death, especially among those over 50.

Several other countries that heavily deployed the Sinopharm vaccine, such as the UAE and Seychelles, also experienced severe outbreaks and implemented booster programs of their own.

Bahrain's booster shot plans

Bahrain has been proactive in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The country has approved and administered several vaccines, including Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Sputnik V. In addition, Bahrain participated in the Phase 3 clinical trial for the Sinopharm vaccine.

Booster Recommendations

Bahrain has recommended that vulnerable individuals, including those who are obese, over 50, or have long-term illnesses, receive a Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot six months after their last Sinopharm inoculation. This decision was made amid concerns about the effectiveness of the Sinopharm vaccine, as Bahrain experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases despite having around 50% of its population fully vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine.

Vaccine Availability

Bahrain has taken steps to ensure that vaccines are easily and conveniently accessible to its citizens and residents. In August 2020, the country placed an order for more than 1 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm vaccines. The National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 is responsible for staying up to date with vaccine developments and taking proactive steps to protect the health and safety of Bahrain's citizens and residents.

Vaccine Efficacy

While the Sinopharm vaccine has been widely used in Bahrain and other countries, there have been concerns about its efficacy due to a lack of publicly available clinical data. The vaccine has been reported to have an efficacy rate of 79-86%, but the lack of transparency from Sinopharm has led to skepticism from scientists and researchers.

Future Plans

The Bahraini government and health authorities are working to determine the periodicity of vaccine doses and evaluate the long-term protection provided by the vaccines. As with all vaccines, the level of antibodies will decrease over time, but the immune system's "memory cells" may retain information about the coronavirus for years, allowing for a faster and more effective response if reinfected.

In summary, Bahrain has implemented booster shot plans to enhance the protection of its citizens and residents against COVID-19. The country has recommended Pfizer-BioNTech boosters for vulnerable individuals who have received the Sinopharm vaccine, and it continues to monitor vaccine developments and efficacy data to make informed decisions.

Efficacy of Chinese-made vaccines

China has two vaccines authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO): Sinopharm and Sinovac. Both vaccines use inactivated viruses to prompt an immune response in the patient, a tried and tested vaccine method.

Concerns Over Efficacy

There have been concerns over the efficacy of Chinese-made vaccines, particularly in countries with high vaccination rates that have experienced severe outbreaks. For example, Bahrain, one of the world's most vaccinated nations, has seen a devastating surge in COVID-19 cases despite using the Sinopharm vaccine. In response, Bahrain has offered booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to those already fully immunized with the Sinopharm vaccine.

Several other countries that have heavily deployed the Sinopharm shot, such as the UAE and the Seychelles, have also experienced severe outbreaks and are considering or implementing booster programs.

The efficacy of Chinese-made vaccines has also been questioned due to a lack of public clinical data needed to verify manufacturers' claims and deficiencies in the data that is made available. The peer-reviewed study from Sinopharm's Phase 3 trial found the vaccine to be 79% effective at preventing symptomatic disease, but it noted that the predominantly young, healthy, and male trial participants meant the study had "insufficient power to test the efficacy among those with chronic diseases, women, and older adults," a concern echoed by the WHO for older people.

Defending the Efficacy

Experts have defended the efficacy of Chinese-made vaccines, arguing that no vaccine provides 100% protection against COVID-19, and breakthrough cases are to be expected. They emphasize that the crucial metric for success is preventing deaths and hospitalizations, not aiming for zero COVID-19 cases.

In countries such as Mongolia, Seychelles, and Chile, which have fully inoculated more than 50% of their populations mainly with Chinese-made vaccines, cases are surging, but that does not necessarily indicate vaccine failure. Jin Dongyan, a professor of molecular virology at Hong Kong University, stated that "if we want to bring down the severe cases (and) the number of deaths, the Sinopharm, Sinovac can help."

Impact of Vaccine Hesitancy

The skepticism and concerns surrounding Chinese-made vaccines have contributed to vaccine hesitancy, particularly in Southeast Asian countries that have heavily relied on these vaccines. This hesitancy has been fueled by anecdotes and news reports of fully vaccinated individuals contracting COVID-19 or experiencing breakthrough infections.

The shift away from Chinese-made vaccines in some countries has also been influenced by the availability of Western alternatives, such as Pfizer and Moderna. However, it is important to note that in poorer countries with limited access to Western vaccines, Chinese-made vaccines remain an important weapon in the fight against coronavirus.

Addressing Efficacy Concerns

To address concerns about the efficacy of Chinese-made vaccines, particularly against new variants, experts emphasize the need for improved vaccines and the development of next-generation vaccines. This is crucial not only for public health but also for China's vaccine diplomacy goals and contributing to ending the pandemic.

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