The Kingdom of Bahrain has launched a number of mobile COVID-19 vaccination units dedicated to immunising senior citizens and individuals with special needs, it has been revealed.

Said to be the first of its kind in the GCC region, the mobile units involve medical teams making home visits to provide one of two approved COVID-19 vaccines to those unable to attend the dedicated centres. 

Bahrain’s official news agency stated that the initiative was rolled-out under the directives of the country’s Executive Committee, headed by Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

WHY IT MATTERS

Last month, Bahrain began its process of vaccinating citizens and residents against COVID-19, with the Sinopharm vaccine initially being the only option available. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was introduced later on in the month as a second choice.

The Kingdom aims to vaccinate its total population of an estimated 1.6 million people for free. So far, around 97,000 individuals have received at least one dose from one of 27 health centres, King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) and the mobile vaccination units.

Those requiring the assistance of a mobile unit need to make a request via the Bahraini Ministry of Health’s website or its official BeAware smartphone application. Mobile units will then be dispatched to locations across the country based on the applications received.

Applicants and/or their families/caregiver will be contacted by a member of the mobile unit in advance to schedule the home visit.

In a statement, the ministry elaborated that “it monitors applications submitted through its website and determines needs of the elderly and people with special needs who registered to receive the vaccination.”

Late last week, it was announced that the Kingdom had reportedly become the very first country in the world to allow COVID-19 vaccine appointments via a mobile app. At the time of publishing, Bahrain had the second-highest vaccination rate in the world, with a reported rate of 3.49 vaccination doses per 100 individuals.