The African Union (AU), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) have coordinated the delivery of 100,620 doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine as part of global efforts to fight the pandemic.
Out of a total allocation of 108,000 doses, COVAX has delivered 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to Namibia.
The country, in August, reported over 121,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases and over 3,000 deaths.
Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that Namibia is among the 42 African countries set to miss the global goal of vaccinating the most vulnerable ten percent of their population against Covid-19 by the end of September 2021.
As of 28 July, 2021, only 6.3 percent of the Namibian population had received their first dose.
The Pfizer vaccine doses were donated by the United States government as part of its pledge to provide at least 25 million of 80 million doses globally to Africa.
‘These vaccines are part of the U.S. commitment to support Namibia’s fight against the pandemic’, U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Jess Long, said.
‘We will continue working together to put an end to this pandemic’s high toll on life, livelihoods, and secondary social and economic impacts’.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has noted that the Namibian economy sharply contracted by 7.2 percent in 2020 and recovery is set to remain subdued at 2.1 percent in 2021 as a direct fallout of the pandemic.
It is estimated that the country may need to vaccinate at least 10,000 people per day if it is to reach its target of 60 percent of the population.
‘The Pfizer vaccine will be made available at the established Covid-19 vaccination sites across the country’, News Era quoted Health Minister, Dr Shangula Kalumbi, as saying.
‘However, due to stringent cold chain storage requirements and the imperative of reducing potential exposure to high temperatures, different regions and districts will announce and inform the public about the sites where the Pfizer vaccine will be available.
‘Vaccination will help us to revive our economy and defeat Covid-19. It will help us flatten the curve and remain a step ahead of the pandemic. We have seen that by working together, we can change the trajectory of the disease’.
Sources: United States Embassy in Namibia, News Era
Photo source: African CDC
