Sierra Leone experiences 3rd wave of COVID-19 transmission

Dear Colleagues,

Sierra Leone is experiencing a 3rd wave of Covid-19 transmission. We have seen an increase in the positivity rate from <1.5% in May to the current 8.9%. We have also observed that the bed occupancy in COVID-19 community treatment and care centers nationally has increased from <4.0% in the month of May to the current 35.0 %.

In view of the above, I wish to encourage you all to consistently observe the recommended public health and social measures to keep Covid-19 at bay.  These include COVID-19 vaccines which remain the most powerful public health tool at our disposal at the moment.

A Covid-19 media talking points document issued by the UN Secretariat last month provides the following information about the AstraZeneca vaccine (that is being offered at the UN Clinic to UN personnel and their family members) and related issues:

• The AstraZeneca vaccine is very effective in preventing severe disease and death due to COVID-19 in adults of all ages.
• A very rare but serious side effect (blood clotting with low platelets) may occur after a first dose:
  • Initial experience shows it occurs in about 4-6 people in a million
  • It appears less likely in older adults than younger adults – but remains very rare
• The benefits of vaccination are far greater than the risk of rare side effect. In addition to the benefits in preventing severe disease and death due to COVID-19, the vaccine offers
  • Protection against overall COVID-19 and complications from ‘long COVID’ and death.
  • Protection potentially for close contacts and the community, by preventing transmission
  • Reduction of risk of severe disease from some variant strains of the virus

• While several COVID-19 vaccines appear to have high levels of efficacy, no vaccine is 100% protective. As a result, there will always be some people who do not develop protection as expected after COVID-19 vaccination.

• In addition to a vaccine's specific characteristics, several factors such as a person's age, their underlying health conditions, or previous exposure to COVID-19 may have an impact on a vaccine's effectiveness.
• Evaluations of vaccines’ effectiveness in the routine use setting will be critical for continuing to optimize the use of these vaccines and to further the development of ever more effective vaccines.  This is a normal part of the lifecycle of vaccine development and assures that we continue to improve the vaccines and their use.

• For two-dose vaccines, the protection provided by vaccines is only partial after the first dose, and time is needed before protection reaches its maximum level after the second dose. People may still get infected, especially if they do not continue to take precautions after their first dose.
• Even after taking all of the recommended doses and waiting for a few weeks for immunity to build up, there is a chance that someone could fall ill. Vaccines do not provide full (100%) protection. However, even if people fall ill, those who have been vaccinated are likely to have mild illness or be asymptomatic.
• Vaccines are life-saving but on their own, they are not enough. We need to continue to ‘do it all, especially when most people in society are not vaccinated and COVID-19 is widespread.
• At the moment we are advising everyone – vaccinated or not – to adhere to the same public health measures like physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand and respiratory hygiene, and opening windows and doors where possible.

In other words, for the foreseeable future we must continue to wear masks, physically distance and avoid crowds. Being vaccinated does not mean that we can throw caution to the wind and put ourselves and others at risk.  But given that being fully vaccinated offers significant protection against severe illness and hospitalization if one were to become infected with the coronavirus, I wish to again encourage all UN personnel (and their family members) that are yet to be vaccinated to receive the vaccine as soon as possible.

The UNCT will continue to listen to your concerns and provide as much information and advice as possible.  

Please stay safe and healthy.