By: Julia Heita
Health minister Kalumbi Shangula says that of the 467 148 first doses administered in the country by April, 16,796 (3.6 per cent) were children and adolescents between 12-and 17.
Shangula said the school vaccination campaigns had ignited a positive movement for vaccination among youth in Namibia. He said this during the 42nd Covid-19 briefing on Wednesday.
“The early lessons from this campaign show eagerness from the youth to get vaccinated, once they are fully educated and provided with factual information about the vaccines and their benefits,” he said.
The vaccination mobilisation campaign, led jointly by the health ministry, the education, arts and culture ministry, ICT ministry, and with support from the home affairs ministry, was launched in Windhoek on 25 March 2022.
“The campaign is making headway in mobilising learners 12-17 years and teachers for vaccination. Since then, the campaign has been launched in other regions and will run for
a period of six months.”
Shangula said the global target is to vaccinate 70 per cent of countries’ populations to make an impact on the pandemic.
“At home, by 10 April 2022, 467 148 persons have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine nationally. Of these, 465 914 are persons aged 18 years and above, while 16 210 are children aged 12-17 years old.”
He said 399 304 (22.4 per cent) eligible persons are fully vaccinated countrywide. The average daily vaccination uptake keeps fluctuating but remains very low at 491 for the first dose and 191 for the second dose per day.
Shangula stated that scientific evidence points to the added benefit of boosters or additional doses.
“As of 12 April 2022, the total number of eligible persons who have received booster doses in Namibia stood at 47 829, a 56.5 per cent increase, from the 30 554 the ministry announced during the last briefing.”
He added that the ministry would continue to implore more people to enhance their protection by going for the booster vaccines.
Regarding the vaccine stock, Shangula assured the nation that Namibia has enough supply of vaccines.
“As of 5 April 2022, the stock level at Central Medical Store was 746 290 doses of Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, J&J and Pfizer, combined.”
During the 42nd Covid-19 briefing, President Hage Geingob commended all frontline health workers and first responders who have been committed to protecting the country against the virus.
“The fact that our country has reached and maintained a manageable infection rate is a testament to our health workers’ hard work and dedication.”
Geingob said that while the disease continues to evolve, including the detection of the new Delta-Cron variant, “to be fore-warned is to be fore-armed.”
“We continue to make evidence-based policy decisions, as advised by experts. Local data has proven that vaccinated persons are less likely to fall seriously ill when re-infected. This because those vaccinated have built up some immunity,” he said.
He said that local statistics on Covid-19 related hospitalisations and ICU admissions are of those who have not been vaccinated.
