Polio vaccination is not compulsory in Namibia, and no child should be immunised without parental or guardian consent, Health and Social Services Minister Dr. Esperance Luvindao assured the National Assembly this week.

Dr. Luvindao was responding to concerns raised by Body of Christ party leader Thomas Festus about obtaining parental permission for vaccinations.

"We conduct any sort of vaccination or immunisation with permission from parents," the minister stated. "The Ministry of Health and Social Services put out another post again today on our social media platforms that are circulating, and in bold it says, 'Vaccination is voluntary.' Now, if the honourable member is aware of any particular cases where children were vaccinated without the permission of the parents or their carers, the honourable member, as opposed to perhaps holding up a cell phone, can maybe put that for me in writing, bring it forth, and then we will take it up."