Sierra Leone: World Health Organization (WHO), together with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, has received about 4,480 doses of Ebola vaccine from the Pharmaceutical Company, Johnson and Johnson.
The handing over of the vaccine took place at the conference hall of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation on Youyi Building in Freetown.
The Ministry says the country is yet to record any case of Ebola pointing out that the steps taken are in a bid to prevent it from entering the country, and noting that the last confirmed outbreak was in 2016.
A total of 60,000 doses which has been approved for use to protect people at high risk of the disease (front line health workers in border districts) reached Sierra Leone on the 10th and 11th April 2021. To be protected, a person needs two doses of the vaccine eight weeks apart.
The Ministry says it will soon announce the roll out dates of the vaccines.
The vaccine is said to be 100% effective in field tests in Guinea in 2016, which implies that none of the people who took it got Ebola, as opposed to some people who did not take it and ended up contracting the disease.
Ministry of Health has disclosed that a team of experts will monitor all individuals who will take the vaccine to watch for any serious side effects.
Like any other vaccine, the Ministry revealed that some who will take it will experience minor side effects like tiredness, mild fever, and headache, adding that these side effects may go away in a day or two.
In all if these, the Ministry calls on all and sundry to plan ahead and take action now, for according to them, it is the best way to protect oneself and one’s family, as well as stopping Ebola from harming one’s community.
The Ministry further called on all to always engage in hand washing with soap and water as well as using hand sanitizer whilst urging all and sundry to be prepared to go to the nearest hospital or call the toll free line (117).
Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, said the vaccine has gone through all the rigorous phases of examination. He continued that the country does not have the capacity to further examine the vaccine in respect of its side effects, but will rely on the data from other countries that have used it.
He added that the Ministry intends to vaccinate all and sundry, but disclosed that the vaccine is limited. “We will target our Frontline workers, for if you defend your army first, your army will defend your country,” he said. He assured all that if the vaccine becomes available, the Ministry will expand the scope and distribution.
He furthered that the Ministry has a team of experts who are taking the lead to ensure that all the protocols with regards the use of the vaccine are observed.
The Minister further assured that the country is in a state of preparedness to tackle the disease should there be an outbreak. He stressed the need for collective responsibility among all and sundry, for he said that is the only way the country can win the fight against the spread of the disease.
He warned against those who are in the habit of bathing dead bodies not to ever engage in that should there be an outbreak. “When a person dies of Ebola, that dead body becomes more infectious,” he said.
Dr. Steven Shongwe, of the World Health Organization (WHO) said they will ensure that anyone who takes the vaccine is safe, for they will set up safety regulations to ensure the safety of all. He continued that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine has been commissioned for licence by the European Union Commission. He added that any side effect from the vaccine will be investigated.
SKS/13/04/2021