By Nasratu Kargbo
In an effort to reduce the devastating effect of the third wave and subsequent outbreak of the new variant of the coronavirus in Sierra Leone, the nation’s response team has expanded its vaccination drive to include people age 18 and older.
The country some three months ago started the vaccination drive targeting the older populace from age 60 upwards but that was later lowered to age 30 in June 2021. However, new restrictions were imposed on access to government buildings such as the court building and the Youyi building which house most of the government ministries. These restrictions raised some eyebrows as there were lawyers and other staff and members of the public who claimed to be below 30 and were affected by such laws even when the vaccine did not cater for them.
The Public Health National Emergency Communication Pillar Lead Harold Thomas told Politico that they were bringing the target age bracket down to 18 because young people are also dying of the virus.
To be able to cater for the population, he said 92,000 more doses of AstraZeneca would be available in the country this month and that they are also expecting Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson vaccine by next month.
Speaking on how the vaccines will be distributed in the country, Thomas said there is no distribution plan as of now, but stated that AstraZeneca and Sinopharm will be distributed across the country.
He explained that as for pfizer due to the high cold chain requirement, they will be centered in the district headquarter towns because they need negative cold chain capacity.
He added that when Johnson and Johnson arrives in the country, it will be sent to the remotest areas because they are single-dose vaccines and that the cold chain requirement is not too high, stating it can be stored at any refrigerating temperature which is +2 to +8.
However, Thomas reiterated that they will get a comprehensive plan for the vaccine when they get to the country.
According to the FAQ published by NaCOVERC, those who have taken the first dose of AstraZeneca should not worry even if the scheduled date for the next dose is due; assuring that the vaccine will still be effective in giving protection against the effects of the virus.
The country recently experienced a surge in the virus making both the United Kingdom and the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) to place the country on the red list and level four-country respectively on their travelling guide.
However, the CDC has on the 2nd August 2021 updated its travelling guide moving Sierra Leone from level four which means High Risk to that of level two; Moderate Risk.
The NaCOVERC spokesman Solomon Jamiru Esq in a short social media write-up noted that the progress is a validation of national efforts to suppress the third wave.
“With significant decline in case numbers, low positivity, low incidence rates, and just 8% of beds at treatment and community care centers occupied, the measures are certainly working,” it reads.
Since its index case in March 2020, Sierra Leone has so far recorded a total of 6,292 (six thousand two hundred and ninety two) cases of COVID with 120 deaths and a total of 4,281 (four thousand two hundred and eighty-one) recoveries. Western Area Urban and Rural continue to top the chart with a total of 3,732 (three thousand seven hundred and thirty two), and 961 confirmed cases respectively as of 3rd August 2021.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online
