THE Minister of Health, Semano Sekatle says three of the five people who recently died in Leribe after receiving their COVID-19 shots, had cardiovascular, sugar diabetes, HIV/ AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) comorbidities.

He was speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday in Maseru where he presented a final report on investigations into the five deaths that were associated with the COVID-19 vaccination programme, particularly with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

Mr Sekatle said the deaths were well investigated by two special groups of health gurus, that included epidemiological and public health experts, adding that both parties’ findings show that there was nothing wrong with the vaccine used.

The first batch of experts, he said visited the homes of the victims, to establish their health histories before the vaccination.

He said they also investigated the health centres where the vaccinations were conducted along with other people who received their jabs at the same centres and on the same days.

The second batch of experts, he said was composed of local health experts, personnel from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the African Union (AU) and leading experts on allergies after vaccination from Australia.

He said after examining the bodies of the deceased, their samples were transferred to South Africa at independent laboratories for further investigations.