Only 466,208 people are Fully Vaccinated in the Country- Kandodo Chiponda.
The Minister of Health, Hon. khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, has revealed that 466,208 people are fully vaccinated in the country since the vaccination exercise commenced on 11th March 2021 in the country.
Chiponda was saying this today, September 17th, ,2021 during a virtual press conference on Covid-19 vaccine updates.
She then urged faith and religious leaders, the local and other influential leaders to encourage their subjects and followers to recieve the vaccine .
“Let me take this opportunity to appreciate all those that have made a good choice and get vaccinated to ensure that they are fully protected from Covid-19,” Chiponda said.
The minister further appealed to everyone aged 18 years and above to ensure that they get vaccinated.
Currently, 1,403,390 vaccine doses have been recieved in the country to date in different shipments and out of these, 1,099,040 doses are of AstraZeneca Vaccines and 304350 doses of Johnson and Johnson Vaccine.
She reminded Malawians that just like any other medical products, the vaccines have varied expiry dates as well and to ensure that no vaccines are wasted through expiry, the first expiry first use strategies are used in the vaccine stock management.
“The Ministry of health after noting a decline in the uptake of the Vaccines have given additional resources to the districts to ensure that we bring the Vaccines closer to the people,” She added.
Among the strategies that are being implemented include;
Intensity publicity, training of more health workers as vaccinators to open up more vaccination sites and arranging immunization session in work places and churches, opening vaccination sites in all the colleges and Universities and door to door vaccinations.
The Minister believes the strategies that have been put in place will ensure that uptake of the Vaccines are increased, protecting more people from Covid-19 severe disease and at the same time not wasting through expiry.
“Let me appeal to everyone to encourage each other to get vaccinated as the Vaccines are a safe and effective way to control this pandemic from causing more damage to our day to day lives,” Chiponda highlighted.
By September 16th, 2021, a total of 968,290 Vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far, Cumulatively 502,082 and 231,133 people have recieved the first dose and second dose of AstraZeneca Vaccine respectively while 231,075 people have recieved Johnson and Johnson Vaccine. Cumulatively, 466,208 people are fully vaccinated.