The Ministry and Social Services has commenced with the voluntary administration of COVID-19 booster for all vaccines, Health Minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula announced on Tuesday.
Shangula made the announcement during the 38th public briefing, noting that the same type of COVID-19 vaccine as the initial two doses, is being offered as a third dose. This means a person who received two doses of AstraZeneca will get a third dose of AstraZeneca as a booster.
A person may only receive a different type of vaccine if the one they initially received is not available, or in case of allergic reaction to the initial type of vaccine. According to Shangula, in these instances, a third dose of Pfizer is recommended.
The health minister further announced that there has been an increase in the daily uptake of vaccination and as of 13 December 2021, 388 719 people or 25.9 per cent of the eligible population had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 327 532 persons or 21.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.
He said since the ministry commenced with the administration of boosters for the Sinopharm vaccine two weeks ago, 660 people have received their third dose.
Since the approval of vaccination for those aged 12 to 17 years, 235 doses have been recorded for this age group.
Shangula also noted that Namibia has recorded a number of breakthrough infections among fully vaccinated people. He, however, emphasised that while vaccines are not cures and are not 100 per cent effective at stopping transmission or infection, they are effective in offering protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death due to COVID-19.
“Being vaccinated makes it less likely that you will pass the virus on to others, thereby protecting those around you,” he said while calling on those who are fully vaccinated to continue taking proper precaution.
Furthermore, Shangula noted that Namibia has been recording a significant number of re-infections among people who had previously tested positive for COVID-19.
He said evidence suggests that 95 per cent of people produce antibodies two weeks after COVID-19 onset.
“It is possible that these antibodies could fade over time, making a person susceptible to COVID-19 infection again. Some people may not develop a fool-proof antibody response in the first place. Therefore, it is possible for a person who has fully recovered from COVID-19 to be reinfected,” Shangula stated.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
