Why Bahrain going for Pfizer after vaccinated with Chinese vaccine?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved two Chinese vaccines Sinopharm and Sinovac for emergency use to coronavirus patients. WHO gave a report of 79% efficacy rate for the Sinopharm vaccine. 

Many nations are not confident on Chinese vaccine. China has conducted clinical trials of Sinopharm in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain is one of the first nations that supports China's Sinopharm vaccine granting it emergency use of approval in December, 2020. That gives a morale boost for Beijing’s vaccine despite many doubts over lack of safety and efficacy of data.

After 6 months in Bahrain, the government is offering Pfizer doses to the individuals who are already vaccinated with Chinese Sinopharm vaccine. Bahrain government's decision sends a signal to the world on the efficacy and performance of the Sinopharm vaccine. It seems that Bahrain vaccination drive with Sinopharm doesn’t produce satisfactory results. Bahrain's decision is just weeks after WHO granted Sinopharm as emergency use. Even after 50% of the vaccination drive was completed, Bahrain has seen the worst wave in a surging number of cases that forced the imposition of a two-week lockdown in the country.

Its neighbor United Arab Emirates too had announced booster jabs for Sinopharm in the second week of May. Experts from UAE confirmed that some of those vaccinated through Sinopharm had not developed sufficient antibodies in their body. Amid many questions and doubts on efficacy of the vaccine, Sinopharm makes up a significant chunk of China’s own vaccine supply of vaccines for domestic use. Not only Bahrain and UAE, even Seychelles, Chile and Uruguay have seen a surge in positive cases after using Chinese vaccination to the people.