MANAMA — Bahrain has already placed an order to purchase more than 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines being developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, British firm AstraZeneca and the Chinese Sinopharm, said Dr. Manaf Al Qahtani, a member of the national taskforce for combating COVID-19, on Tuesday.

Dr. Qahtani said that the selection of the aforementioned vaccines was made by the taskforce after following up on the developments regarding vaccine trials in the world.

He also that the kingdom will to be among the first countries in the world to provide the vaccines as soon as it is approved by national and international health authorities.

He said that concerned authorities have drawn up plans to provide the vaccine to citizens and residents easily and conveniently and in accordance with the best global health practices in this field.

Bahrain, in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates, participated in Phase 3 clinical trial for a potential Covid-19 vaccine, being developed by Sinopharm.

Dr. Qahtani that Bahrain is in contact with the other pharmaceutical companies that are developing the potential COVID-19 vaccine. —SG