The country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has received a boost following a donation of 50 thousand doses of AstraZeneca from the Indian government.
“The donation is to meet the immediate requirements of vaccinating health workers in the country”, said Indian High Commission Attache, Subramanian Vasan during the donation at Kamuzu International Airport.
Vasan added that the vaccine has been donated on humanitarian grounds as a gesture of friendship and solidarity between India and Malawi.
“The vaccines mark another milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries,” said Vasan. Speaking when she received the donation, Deputy Minister of Health, Chrissie Kanyasho, said over 3.8 million people are earmarked for vaccinations but the country has inadequate doses.
“The Indian government’s donation will therefore go some way as Government Strategises to control COVID-19 in line with recommendations from WHO,” Kanyasho said.
Kanyasho also encouraged Malawians to ignore misinformation on the vaccine.
The 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine is a second consignment a has received following last Friday’s arrival of a consignment through the Covax facility.
The country is also expected to get more vaccine doses through the African Union to reach the targeted population.
