by Ndalimpinga Iita

WINDHOEK, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The anticipated arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines facilitated by government efforts and donation by China has drawn a positive response in Namibia.

Tingling with enthusiasm, many locals are keenly waiting to be inoculated against COVID-19 with the vaccines.

The country's first batch of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive mid-March, said Ben Nangombe, executive director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Prosper Shigwedha, employed at a local corporate company in the national capital Windhoek, is excited about the inoculation.

Shigwedha, who has witnessed his loved ones succumb to COVID-19, said that he is hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccine would make a huge difference.

"Vaccines are known for aiding the fight against many diseases, and COVID-19 vaccines are no exception. I am glad to hear that the vaccine will arrive soon. It will make a big difference," said the 29-year-old man on Saturday.

He is not the only one. Based in northern Namibia, Ester David is hopeful that the vaccination against COVID-19 would complement existing government regulations and the global community in getting back to normal.

"COVID-19 disrupted many things, including business operations. My wish is that the vaccines complemented by existing regulations could make our lives improve and new opportunities evolve. I hope I will be one of the lucky ones to be vaccinated," she said.

Namibia targets to vaccinate 60 to 80 percent of the country's population.

Besides, the locals also read extensively about the various vaccines to enhance understanding and keep abreast with evolving developments globally.

"At first, like many people here, I thought there were hidden motives for the vaccines given amid fake news and misinformation. But after reading and researching, I would not mind being vaccinated. I thus think that the government should undertake more education," said Andre Namaseb from Windhoek.

Meanwhile, to demystify misconceptions around the COVID-19 vaccines, the health ministry has developed a communication strategy to address health information gaps on the COVID-19 vaccines, said Petronella Masabane, head of the national vaccine taskforce in the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Awareness interventions include public dialogue, development and dissemination of information material on vaccines.

"There is much misinformation about the vaccines. The campaign aims to provide factual information and provide reassurance to the public," she said.

The ministry has also trained regional and district front line workers, local leaders, and health managers to provide factual information about the vaccines at the grassroots level.

Moreover, the government established a national clinical and scientific evaluation committee to ensure the vaccines' safety profile and efficacy.

"Government at all times aims to protect its population as traditionally done through the extended program on immunisation in Namibia," according to Nangombe.

In the interim, the health ministry has put in place a distribution system for dispatching the vaccines countrywide to ensure broad inoculation.

So far, Namibia spent 441 million Namibian dollars (29 million U.S. dollars) under the deployment and vaccination in deploying and acquiring the COVID-19 vaccines. Enditem

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