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Malawi rolls out Covid-19 vaccine

 President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice-President Saulos Chilima yesterday led the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine with a call to Malawians to disregard myths surrounding the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine, saying scientists have certified it safe and effective.

The President got his first jab at Zomba State Lodge field hospital while the Vice-President had his at Mzuzu Central Hospital.

Both events were attended by opinion leaders from a diverse background, including traditional and faith leaders, in a bid to get a buy-in from the masses and clear the myths.

In his address, Chakwera said he decided to be the first to get vaccinated to show Malawians that the vaccine is safe for everyone.

He said: “No one should fool or lie to Malawians about this vaccine; scientists have proven that it is safe and effective. As a show of good faith, I volunteered to get vaccinated so that you can see the vaccine is safe.”

Chakwera gets his Covid-19 jab

In a calm and composed tone, the President described the vaccine roll-out as a major milestone for the country and that his nine political -party Tonse Alliance administration is delighted with the initiative.

Despite not being mandatory, Chakwera said the vaccine is “a must-have”, adding that it has come in the thick of things as many lives have been lost during both the first and second waves of Covid-19.

Figures from the Public Health Institute of Malawi (Phim) show that 888 have died during the second wave from January 1 this year while 189 died of Covid-19 during the first wave between April and December 2020.

In his speech, Chakwera said public health guidelines put in place to contain the pandemic have contributed to a reduction in the positivity rate from 28 percent in January to around eight percent.

The President said if the positivity rate gets around five percent, government will start easing some of the restrictions put in place. The positivity rate reflects how many people test

 positive out of every 100 tested.

But he feared that lifting some of the restrictions could lead to an escalation of the pandemic; hence, the Covid-19 vaccine is important.

Chakwera hailed Unicef for providing storage facilities for the vaccine, India for providing an additional 50 000 doses and the African Union (AU) for providing 100 000 doses. He also thanked World health Organisation (WHO) and other development partners,

He said there will be 861 vaccination points nationwide.

Speaking to The Nation later, Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Dr Charles Mwansambo said the vaccination points will be in all the health centres and not just the Covid-19 treatment centres. He added that other centres will be put up.

In her speech during the ceremony, Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda warned health workers against selling the vaccine or giving it to people who are not eligible.

“This vaccine is not mandatory. It is voluntary and free of charge. Therefore, no one should sell the vaccine to people. If some are found selling the vaccine, please report them to us,” she said.

Chiponda said eligible recipients are required to carry an identification card (ID) as proof in all designated vaccination points.

During the event, the President alongside First Lady Monica Chakwera were the first to get vaccinated. Before getting the jabs, they were briefed by Dr Yamikani Mastala and environmental health officer Vera Maulidi on how the vaccine works.

The two health care workers said the second jabs of the vaccine will be administered on recipients of the first vaccination after eight to 12 weeks.

During the Zomba launch, others who were vaccinated included former president Joyce Banda, Chiponda, United Nations (UN) representative Maria Jose Torres, Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, head of the Catholic Church Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa, Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander General Vincent Nundwe, Inspector General of Police George Kainja and Paramount Chief Kawinga.

In Mzuzu, Chilima said he and the President decided to be the first to take the vaccine to inspire Malawians to do the same, especially when it is rolled out on a larger scale.

He said: “According to the experts, the main reasons for the choice of this vaccine include the fact that AstraZeneca is safe to use with minimum reported adverse effects following immunisation.

“This vaccination is voluntary and will be done in phases. In the initial vaccination phase, we will target 20 percent of the population which will include 60 000 frontline health workers, other social workers, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.”

The Vice-President took his jab alongside Deputy Minister of Health Chrissy Kanyasho, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Aisha Mambo Adams, WHO country representative Nonhlanhla Rosemary Dlamini, Mozambique High Commissioner Jorge David Gune and Inkosi ya Makosi M’Mbelwa V.

On her part, Kanyasho encouraged targeted groups in the first phase to get vaccinated. She also asked members of Parliament, political, traditional and religious leaders to send the right messages on Covid-19 to people.

M’Mbelwa V urged people to ignore misconceptions about the vaccine, and get immunised once their time comes.

“We have been getting vaccines since birth, so there is nothing new. I have been vaccinated and nothing has changed. Let people out there know that the vaccine is just safe and we all have to get it when presented with the opportunity,” he said.

C o m m u n i t y H e a l t h Ambassador and health rights activist Maziko Matemba, who also got vaccinated in Mzuzu, said people should get the right information from health experts and ignore rumours.

The Ministry of Health is targeting to immunise 11 million people, representing 60 percent of the country’s critical population.

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