Manama : The Ministry of Health Undersecretary Dr. Waleed Khalifa Al Manea opened a celebration marking World Immunisation Week, observed worldwide under the theme “The Big Catch-up”.
The event was organised by the Public Health Directorate under the patronage of the Health Minister, Dr. Jaleela bint Al Sayed Jawad Hassan.
World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has recently commended the Kingdom’s efforts to combat measles and rubella, reflecting the leadership’s constant support for preventive programmes, Dr. Al Manea said.
The Undersecretary outlined Bahrain’s efforts to address infectious diseases and control pandemics through vaccines, including its success story in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic which was acclaimed by WHO.
Dr. Al Manea said that in line with health strategies implemented by Bahrain, new vaccinations are added to the National Immunization Programme based on international and local scientific updates and recommendations. He added that there was a recommendation to add the HPV vaccine to the programme, giving it to females and males between the ages 12-13 years to protect them from cervical cancer in females and other cancers in males.
Public Health Assistant Undersecretary Dr. Ejlal Al Alawi said that Bahrain introduced the smallpox vaccine in 1940, followed by all vaccines, helping to decrease morbidity and mortality rates from many infectious diseases that could be prevented with vaccination.
Vaccination services are extended to all ages under the Expanded Immunisation Programme, which provides recommended vaccines from birth through routine childhood vaccinations, including women of childbearing age, the elderly, and groups most at risk from disease, as well as health workers, and travelers, Dr. Al Alawi said.
Vaccination coverage rates have exceeded 95% since 1997 in Bahrain, indicating the progress of sustainable development efforts, and reflecting the community’s high confidence in the preventive services provided by the Health Ministry in partnership with different sectors and international and regional organizations.
