Bahrain has a problem. Cases and deaths are rising despite early adoption and use of Sinopharm vaccine. The country also has a diverse vaccine array offered (Pfizer, Sputnik,J&J, AZ), with over 50% population having one shot.
For perspective on the Y axis (100 per 100K)
These aren't just mild infections. These are the deaths attributed to COVID in Bahrain (blue)
This was just as Israel and Bahrain had agreed to create a vaccine passport corridor npr.org/sections/coron…
Given rise in cases and concern over Sinopharm longterm efficacy, Bahrain is offering a "third shot would be given six months after the second dose to people over 60, those with chronic diseases and frontline medical workers, while all other adults could receive it a year later"
Sinopharm is also the vaccine the Seychelles had deployed along with AstraZeneca, when the Seychelles saw a surge despite a high vaccination rate. indiatoday.in/science/story/…
The data on deaths and severity in the Seychelles is harder to interpret given the small population. More still to be learned on the clinical outcomes of the vaccinated.
Cases are now dropping but deaths, though low absolute numbers, continue.
Sinopharm is only approved in a limited number of countries. Bahrain, China, United Arab Emirates.
EMERGENCY Use: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Egypt, Gabon, Guyana, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, ...
...Namibia, Nepal, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
To stress, Bahrain and the Seychelles do not have the same risk as the US and other countries which have a very different vaccine portfolio that do not rely on this killed, whole vaccine, which is very different from the mRNA and viral vector vaccines (esp w 2 proline Spike) used
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It seems like the social determinants of health are being overlooked here in the conversations about masking.
Public Health isn't about dangling health above the public and hoping everyone jumps high enough to get it. It's about dealing with realities and meeting those realities
In NYC, the elderly are still not vaccinated. Less than half of of 85+ year olds are fully vaccinated in NYC. In London, the same population has almost all received at least one dose.
Here in the UK, vaccinations among the 80+ crowd (96%). It's possible to meet the elderly and lower the bar to make it accessible. (UK has had different lag times between 1st and 2nd doses) opensafely.org/research/2021/…
For those who had the J&J vaccine, on a personal level, this is like lightning
J&J vax associated with clotting syndrome (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis+low platelets)
- 6 in 6.8 M
- about 1 in a million
Chance of being struck by lightning this year
- about 2 in a million
All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination fda.gov/news-events/pr…
Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas have the most lightning deaths and injuries. Florida is considered the “lightning capital” of the country...cdc.gov/disasters/ligh…
Mexico saw an O2 tank shortage. Black markets + overpricing affected supply.
According to a NYT report, “part of the reason why so many people are dying now, doctors and government officials say, is shortages: there simply are not enough oxygen tanks.” mexicobusiness.news/health/news/ox…
Rwanda, where peaks have been tight and controlled quickly, is on the upswing. Most of its peak mirror Kenya's with a slight lag.
Malawi also faced a steep surge in cases following South Africa's B.1.351 triggered wave.
Although countries like Malawi have controlled surge after B.1.351 spread through South Africa and the region, there's still a problem here. Although the best vaccine is a vaccine in the arm, not all vaccines are quite the same.
The B.1.351 variant has also created waves in Southern and East Africa, as countries face new peaks. Kenya is currently facing this COVID Loch Ness monster.