Namibia suspends roll-out of Russia's Sputnik COVID jab over HIV fears
Namibia has suspended the use of Russia's Sputnik V COVID jab, its health ministry confirmed today.
The decision comes days after the drugs regulator in South Africa flagged concerns over its safety for people at risk of HIV.
Regulator SAHPRA decided not to approve Sputnik V because studies suggest that use of vaccines with the Adenovirus Type 5 vector - which Sputnik V has - can lead to higher susceptibility to HIV in men.
South Africa and Namibia both have high HIV prevalence rates.
Namibia's health ministry said that the decision to discontinue use of the Russian vaccine was "out of [an] abundance of caution that men [who] received Sputnik V may be at higher risk of contracting HIV."
The Gamaleya Research Institute, which developed Sputnik V, said Namibia's decision was not based on any scientific evidence or research.
"Sputnik V remains one of the safest and most efficient vaccines against COVID-19 in use globally," the institute told the Reuters news agency.
It added that over 250 clinical trials and 75 international publications had confirmed the safety of vaccines and medicines based on human adenovirus vectors.
Namibia said the suspension would take effect immediately and last until Sputnik V receives a World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listing.