BLANTYRE, Malawi, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has recently announced that the country is going to embark on an immunization exercise that will see Malawian citizens receiving COVID-19 vaccination.
Responding to the development, local, religious and political leaders in Malawi have hailed government plans to introduce the COVID-19 vaccine as a strong path to saving more people's lives.
The first consignment of AstraZeneca's vaccine targeting 20 percent of the population, roughly 3.8 million people, is expected in Malawi at the end of February with a plan to roll out in March.
This follows a spike in the number of cases in the Southern African country that have since April hit 27,422 with 874 deaths.
Senior Chief Chikumbu of Mulanje, south Malawi, said while the fight against the pandemic is being enhanced on the treatment front, bringing a vaccine is a winning formula.
"The vaccine is not intended at killing anyone, nor is it intended at victimizing any human. The vaccine is rather aimed at protecting us all and bringing the pandemic to an end as soon as possible," she said.
The vaccination program in Malawi starts with front-line health care workers, the elderly who are more vulnerable to the pandemic and people with underlying health conditions.
In his remarks, CCAP Blantyre Synod General Secretary Reverend Billy Gama says by opting for a vaccine, the government means well for its people.
"I don't think there is any other government that can accept a vaccine that can kill its people. It is the responsibility of the government to save the lives of the people," he said.
The doses secured are aimed at giving as many citizens as possible immunity against the virus.
According to legislator Kondwani Nakhumwa who also leads the opposition benches in the Malawi National Assembly, however, there is a need for enhanced awareness for people to understand issues surrounding the vaccine.
"Not much has been done. We have been talking about the vaccine for the past two weeks or so if I am not mistaken. The two weeks are not long enough but I am glad people have started talking about it but as far as civic education is concerned, I think we haven't done much yet. There is a need for a proper strategy to be put in place," Nakhumwa said.
According to Malawi's Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 co-chairperson Dr John Phuka, the vaccine is safe and highly effective.
"It is not the first time we have used a vaccine in Malawi. And we usually accept vaccines very well and we know at this point for example that by itself, we are struggling and that is why we have high numbers of COVID-19 cases," he said. "Therefore the fact that local leaders, religious leaders and legislators have accepted the vaccines, it's a good start that can help us control the disease."
Meanwhile, the government has set aside funds in all Malawi's 28 districts for the procurement of face masks for every Malawian. Enditem
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