Namibia plans to proceed with the release of the AstraZeneca vaccine even after its South African neighbor stopped using it because tests showed it was less effective against mild infection of Covid-19 strain who had the upper hand in the area.
The country is expected to receive doses of the picture as part of its program to vaccinate 60% of the population after the World Health Organization used a recommendation, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula told lawyers on Wednesday.
“We have received a letter from the Covax facility stating that Namibia can expect doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be released in mid to late February,” he said.
South Africa chose to start vaccination with Johnson & Johnson vaccine after tests showed the Astra picture offered reduced protection from mild diseases caused by the new snoring that was first identified in the country and has spread across southern Africa and elsewhere. It is unclear how effective the Astra vaccine is against infection.
Astra vaccine shows less effect against South African variety
The health ministry was still investigating whether the South African variant is common in Namibia, Shangula said. In addition to Covax, a WHO resource to help ensure fair access to vaccines, the government is also in talks with manufacturers in China, Russia, India and the US, he said. .
Namibia, with a population of 2.5 million people, has recorded about 36,000 cases of the virus and nearly 400 deaths.