News about the soon-to-arrive Covid-19 vaccine on Namibian shores offers hope for our country’s response in the fight against the global pandemic. 
The world over, nations have launched mass-vaccination programmes aimed at protecting millions of people from the novel coronavirus within months. 

For Namibia, this reality is within reach if the announcement by Dr Kalumbi Shangula this week is anything to go by. 
According to the health minister, the country is due to receive the “first wave” of deliveries at the end of January or early February. The first doses will be reserved mainly for healthcare workers, severe patients and the vulnerable in society. 

More vaccine doses are expected to arrive in the coming weeks considering the country has already made a financial commitment through the Covax facility to settle the remaining balance of approximately N$137 million for the virus vaccine. Last year, the country paid over N$29 million to acquire vaccine doses enough for about 20% of the population or 508 200 people. 
Although these are all positive developments, it would be foolhardy for us as a nation to believe that the vaccine will solve all the problems at our disposal and declare the Covid-19 pandemic over. 

The bitter truth is that the virus is only gaining momentum now and we simply don’t know what to expect going forward. 
Firstly, there is mounting concern about the new variant reported in neighbouring South Africa and the United Kingdom. Both countries are struggling with a surge in Covid-19 infections that have been attributed in large part to mutations in the virus. 

There is no doubt our proximity to South Africa makes us vulnerable to the new variant, meaning proper studies have to be carried out to determine whether this Covid-19 strain is now responsible for the massive rise in new infections in our country. 
Secondly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week also warned that herd immunity to the coronavirus would not be achieved this year, considering limited access to vaccines by developing countries. 

Again, this reinforces our call on citizens not to pin their hopes on the vaccine alone. 
Despite the growing availability of vaccines, preventive measures such as the correct wearing of masks, regular sanitizing of hands and maintaining social distancing at all times, remain key to curb the further spread of the virus. 
Covid-19 is real. It is killing thousands every day. Therefore, we should not take it for granted. 
We should not let our guard down. 

Each and every one has a responsibility to stay vigilant and adhere to the regulations and protocols in place to protect ourselves and others from this dreaded pandemic. 
We can ill afford to slip up at this stage and everyone needs to take personal responsibility to stop the spread of Covid-19.