Covid: Bahrain allows vaccination for adolescents aged 12-17, booster dose for those above 50

Children between the ages of 12 to 17 in Bahrain can be administered two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has announced.

The opening of the vaccination registration for adolescents on healthalert.gov.bh will be announced soon, the taskforce confirmed, adding that an approval from a guardian is needed when visiting the health centres, in addition to the presence of one when taking the vaccine.

The decision was made after the Ministry of Health’s Vaccination Committee studied all the recommendations issued by the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, and the US Center for Disease Control, Bahrain News Agency reported.

Furthermore, the taskforce also announced the opening of registration for a booster Covid-19 vaccine dose for the most vulnerable groups in Bahrain, at least six months after taking the second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine.

The booster jab is permitted for first responders, as well as citizens and residents above the age of 50, and those suffering from obesity, low immunity, or other underlying health conditions.

The registration for the booster dose will be available through the Ministry of Health’s website, healthalert.gov.bh. The opening of registration for taking the booster shot for the rest of citizens and residents will be announced at a later stage, the taskforce asserted, as the date for the booster shot will be 12 months after taking the second dose to ensure the maximum benefit possible.

The Kingdom of Bahrain allows vaccination for adolescents aged 12 to 17, and a booster dose for those over fiftyhttps://t.co/0DpmMisabn

— Bahrain News Agency (@bna_en) May 18, 2021

Earlier this week, officials in the UAE also confirmed plans to administer a booster jab of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine.

Read: Covid-19 vaccine: UAE approves plan for Sinopharm booster dose

Furthermore, travelers arriving into Bahrain from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka – including transit ones aged six and above – must present a negative PCR test result certificate containing a QR code, no later than 48 hours before the departure time.

The taskforce added that they also must conduct a PCR test upon arrival, a second PCR test for those who will stay in Bahrain for a period of more than five days, and a third PCR test ten days after the date of arrival, for arrivals who will stay in Bahrain for a period of more than 10 days.

In addition, passengers arriving to Bahrain from the aforementioned countries should also quarantine in their own residences, or at one of the hotels designated for precautionary quarantine licensed by the National Health Regulatory Authority for a period of ten days.