The Kingdom of Bahrain has contributed to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) evaluation and approval of the Chinese “Sinopharm” vaccine, through the Kingdom’s membership of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group on immunization. The Kingdom is represented on the Group by Dr. Jalila Al-Sayed, Chief Executive Officer of Primary Health Care Centers and a member of the National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Following the evaluation process, the World Health Organization’s Committee of Vaccination Experts recommended the approval of Sinopharm for emergency use, making it the first Chinese vaccination to be green lighted by the WHO, recognising its safety and effectiveness. The Kingdom of Bahrain contributed to the evaluation process through data and information related to its participation in phase III clinical trials.
In a statement, the WHO confirmed the recommendation for approval of its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts, and accordingly, the World Health Organization recommended the vaccine on the basis of a recipient receiving two doses.
During the process, Dr. Jalila Al-Sayed reflected the experience and results of the vaccination trials produced by Sinopharma and the Kingdom of Bahrain, which showed the vaccine’s effectiveness for those over the age of 18 to be at 90%, and for those over the age of 60 at 91%.
The Kingdom of Bahrain, one of the first countries to provide free vaccination to all citizens and residents, has vaccinated 70% of those eligible with at least one dose.
This is the first time that a Chinese vaccination has been included in the “emergency use list” of the United Nations World Health Organization.
Source: Bahrain News Agency