AstraZeneca – Windhoek Observer

14 Jul

Shangula shrugs off vaccine stock concerns

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, Covid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, says the depletion of vaccination stocks in the country means that more people are protected. This is the minister’s response to concerns about the dwindling stock of vaccines in the country amidst a third wave that has ravaged the country, and if Government couldn’t have prepared better for it. “It means that the vaccine has been used up by people. In other words, many people have been vaccinated. Which means more people have got protection, that’s why they have used up the vaccine. Which in fact tells us there…

16 Apr

AstraZeneca finally arrives …as ministry misses vaccination target

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, Covid-19, Health Ministry Deputy Executive Director, Petronella Masabane

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Namibia is set to get more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with the much-awaited AstraZeneca expected to arrive in the country Friday morning. According to Health Ministry Deputy Executive Director, Petronella Masabane, the consignment will be the first of three tranches of doses the country will be expecting. “First tranche of 24 000 doses will be landing. Next week expecting more and the rest of the allocation in May from COVAX, also exploring other pipelines," Masabane said. The arrival of the vaccine, which is being sourced under COVAX facility, comes more than three months after it was initially…

13 Mar

AstraZeneca faces mounting bans

ObserverUncategorisedAstraZeneca, Kalumbi Shangula

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri and Rose-Mary Haufiku Controversy continues to dog the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as several European countries suspending the use of AstraZeneca vaccine. Despite Namibian Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, remaining adamant that Government will go ahead with the procurement of the controversial vaccine through the COVAX facility. European media have been carrying reports that the AstraZeneca vaccine caused thromboembolic events or blood clots among some individuals who received the jab. Three of 17 European countries that have received the AstraZeneca vaccine (Denmark, Norway and Iceland) have, as a precautionary measure, stopped administering the vaccine while Italy,…

11 Mar

Government to push ahead with AstraZeneca …despite confirming presence of resistant variant

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, COVAX, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is forging ahead with the procurement of AstraZeneca through the COVAX Facility, despite confirming that the South African variant of COVID-19 known as 501.V2, is in Namibia. Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula confirmed to Windhoek Observer that the Namibia will still receive AstraZeneca through the COVAX Facility, but, however downplayed its ineffectiveness against the variant. On why Namibia is going ahead with procuring a vaccine that studies deemed ineffective, Shangula said, “No, no, don't say so. You have no evidence or grounds to say it is useless. Those…

25 Feb

COVID-19 vaccine delivery shifts to March …as N$583m is budgeted

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, COVAX, Covid-19

Andrew Kathindi Government now expects the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being procured under the COVAX Facility, only in March. This is a shift from a January communique with the COVAX Facility, which had informed Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) , Kalumbi Shangula, that the vaccine should be expected in the country by the middle or end of this month. “The COVAX Facility allocated doses of vaccines to Namibia are expected in March 2021,” stated Shangula. The AstraZeneca vaccine, however, has been found to be ineffective against the new variant in South Africa. According to the Health minister, the…

11 Feb

Health Ministry tight lipped on AstraZeneca vaccine

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, Ben Nangombe, Covid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) remains tightlipped on whether Namibia is still going ahead to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine later this month. Or if it will opt out of the deal after it was found to be highly ineffective against a new variant of the virus, known as 501.V2, discovered in South Africa late last year. The lack of an official position by the ministry, comes after a technical team in the government department met this Monday to discuss the AstraZeneca vaccine following findings on its ineffectiveness by South African health officials. “If at…

09 Feb

Health Ministry scrambles after AstraZeneca vaccine failure

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, COVAX, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) is scrambling for answers after it emerged that the AstraZeneca vaccine, the same vaccine Namibia is expected to receive through the COVAX facility, is not as effective against the new variant of COVID-19. MOHSS Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, told Windhoek Observer that the ministry’s technical team is meeting urgently. AstraZeneca is manufactured by a British–Swedish pharmaceutical company. "My technical team is discussing the matter right now in the context of those developments. We will then issue a position and the way forward, based on the available information. We are dealing…