Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe said the ministry has introduced a third dose of the Sinopharm vaccine for people aged 60 and above.

Nangombe in a media statement on Tuesday said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended an additional dose among persons 60 years and older, immunocompromised people and those with comorbidities.

He said the risk of COVID-19 increases among these groups and it has been documented that the geometric mean titre of antibodies post-vaccine introduction is lower in persons over the age of 60 as compared to those aged between 18 and 59 years.

“The approach to the administration of the additional third doses of Sinopharm vaccine should be done six months after the second dose in adults at 60 years and older, moderately to severely immunocompromised persons including those with active cancer, transplant recipients, those on active treatment and immunocompromised and in people with HIV not on treatment and not virally suppressed,” he said.

All individuals aged 18 years and older who have completed a two-dose schedule of vaccination with Sinopharm and seeking to get vaccinated with the third dose of Sinopharm must not be turned away, Nangombe added.

He said as a precautionary measure, the observation period of 15 minutes after vaccination must be enforced and the third dose administered must be recorded on the vaccination card.

The ministry is collecting evidence on other vaccine boosters and will keep the public informed.

Nangombe updated that as of 25 November 2021, a total of 360 369 people have received the first dose of Sinopharm while 225 113 of these received the second dose. The overall total of fully vaccinated people stood at 300 633 on that date.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency