Singapore: Bahrain's health ministry has almost doubled its annual order of flu vaccines following fears of MERS corona virus and swine flu outbreaks in the Middle East. The orders are increased by 50,000 doses, sources confirmed.

The Health Ministry said that recent outbreaks have increased the awareness about vaccination in the country. Ms Sahar Al Qahtani Health Ministry material management director, told a news report that residents of Bahrain were more aware of infection due to media coverage on the spread of the new viruses in the country.

Ms Al Qahtani stated that the vaccines would be distributed to all health centers across the country. She further explained that usually vaccines would arrive in three batches to Bahrain - the first 5,000 doses before the start of the Haj season, then 20,000 in September and an additional 25,000 in October, ready for the start of the flu season.

She insisted that strict measures would be taken to make the vaccination campaign a huge success across the country, in order to curtail the disease spread.