By Nasratu Kargbo
National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre’s (NaCOVERC) Risk Communication Lead Harold Thomas has during an interview with Politico confirmed that people that have taken first jab of AstraZeneca can take Pfizer as second dose. He said the two vaccines are compatible and allow for mixing and matching.
Thomas explained that the mixing and matching was informed by science, reiterating that if one has taken AstraZeneca and there is a stock out, the individual could simply take Pfizer vaccine. “If you are due for second dose and there is a stock out, you can take Pfizer as second dose, the two vaccines are compatible”, he claimed.
When asked whether there are any risks involved in the mixing and matching, he allayed the fears of the public saying: “Whatever we are doing is informed by science, we have carefully thought through this and we have all the evidence that these vaccines can be mixed and matched”. He said that the vaccines are effective and safe, adding that they have issued such a policy based on best practices from other countries around the world.
Speaking on the Public notice issued by NaCOVERC and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Risk Lead confirmed that the vaccine intake is now open to children between ages 12 to 17 . When asked what informed that decision, Thomas explained that their technical advisory group for immunization made that decision, and according to him they looked at best practices around the world. “They sent the recommendations to the Ministry of health and NaCOVERC; it was also approved by the pharmacy board, that’s why we put out that notice”, he stated.
He also spoke on the booster doses, explaining that according to the manufacturers’ advice: “those booster doses will only be given when you have taken a two dose vaccine, and after six months, then you are eligible to take the booster dose”. However, the booster is limited to certain people. Thomas stated that people over 60, health workers and people with co- morbidities are the ones the booster dose can be administered to.
In a video posted on Ministry of Information and Communication’s Face Book page, Spokesman for NaCOVERC Solomon Jamiru the COVID-19 cases are gradually hiking.
Speaking on statistics, Jamiru gave the number of cases for the past one week, stating that on the 15th December 2021 the country recorded 14 cases, whilst on 16th 4 cases were recorded, 9 were recorded on the 17th, 34 on the 19th , on the 20th there were 5 and on the 21st the country recorded 15 cases. He added that all the cases were from Western Area and people entering into the country.
He assured Sierra Leoneans that NaCOVERC will be very vigilant around the borders and called on Sierra Leoneans to pay attention and practice all precautionary measures to prevent case surge in the country.
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