28 Feb 2021

Botswana has opted for a multiple-vaccine approach to minimise risk in the event one of the vaccines under-performed, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

Addressing the nation on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic Friday, President Masisi said there would therefore be room to switch from one vaccine to another.

He said Botswana Medical Regulatory Authority (BOMRA), tasked with approving the use of medicines to ensure their safety and effectiveness, has granted emergency use approval for Pfizer, AstraZeneca and COVISHIELD.

Regarding  China’s SinoVac, he said  the dossier had been received and was being given urgent attention.

President Masisi said procurement of vaccines would be determined based on the COVID-19 variants detected in the country.

He said early investigations by local researchers indicated that about 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in the country had 501.V2 strain first reported in South Africa. 

“This variant appears to be easily transmissible and tends to dominate where it emerges,” he stated. 

He explained that the approach was cognisant of rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic attributes that demanded evolving strategies.

President Masisi said like many countries, Botswana was on a learning curve and still studying changes in the virus which presented a challenge in identifying an effective vaccine on time. 

The President said a plan was in place to closely monitor mass immunisation programme expected to kick off end of this month.

In implementing the plan, a public health approach in line with national laws and customary consultative process would be used in order to cover as many people as fast as possible, he said.

President Masisi said while the vaccination programme would be implemented in accordance with the Public Health Act, which ensured fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, government had decided to begin the exercise with health care professionals, front-line workers, those with serious health conditions and the elderly. 

He said those unable to travel to immunisation centres would be vaccinated at home. 

President Masisi said a communications strategy on the vaccine roll-out had also been developed and was currently being socialised with the implementing agencies before being shared with the nation. 

He explained that COVID-19 vaccines did not cure the disease but were important in preventing, containing and controlling the spread of the pandemic.

Dr Masisi pointed out that countries that had started vaccinating against the original COVID-19 variants had registered a decline in infections and deaths. 

“I therefore encourage you to take the vaccines once they are available,” he said.

President also urged country’s leadership to join hands with government in encouraging people to get vaccinated.

 “I therefore plead that you all take part in mobilising the public to participate in the national vaccination programme,” he said. 

President Masisi pleaded with those on self-isolation to fully comply with the health protocols as it was difficult to effectively monitor them.

Botswana has recorded 310 deaths since the first case was announced in March 2020 out of which 140 occurred from January to date. Ends