Bahrain has approved Johnson & Johnson's one-dose COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, the first country to do so, the National Health Regulatory Authority says.
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The small Gulf state already offers citizens and residents free of charge four vaccines: the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, one manufactured by Chinese state-backed pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and Russia's Sputnik V.
NHRA said the vaccine was for groups at greater risk of developing complications from COVID-19 including the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
"An in-depth study had been conducted on all documents submitted by the company, which included the results of the clinical trials conducted," NHRA CEO Mariam Al-Jalahma said.
The US Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday the Johnson & Johnson shot appeared safe and effective in trials, paving the way for its approval for emergency use in the United States.
Australian Associated Press
