Covid-19 vaccine awareness creates demand in Nsanje

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust in Nsanje says people in the district need to have good knowledge about Covid-19 vaccines and accept to get the jab.

Nice Nsanje district civic education officer Kondwani Malunga said this in an interview on Wednesday when his organisation embarked on raising public awareness on the importance of being vaccinated.

He said it was critical to continue raising awareness regarding the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines.

Malunga said awareness will help people who are reluctant to receive the Covid-19 jab.

He said: “The hesitation towards Covid-19 vaccination remains a problem in the district, especially in rural areas. Depth of people’s general knowledge of the coronavirus vaccine is imperative to improve public acceptance and decrease vaccine hesitancy.”

Malunga said apart from encouraing people to get vaccinated, the awareness campaign will also help them to know the types of vaccine the country is administering.

He said: “Through the awareness, we are also explaining to people the types of vaccines we have and what they are supposed to do to get vaccinated. We want people to understand issues surrounding Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines.”

Nsanje district health promotion officer George Mbotwa said people in the district are coming in large numbers to get the jab due to awareness being carried out by Nice Trust.

He said the awareness has triggered people’s interest to demand and get the Covid-19 vaccine.

Nice Trust is conducting the awareness with funding from the Ministry of Civic Education and National Unity.