Malawi acquires Covid-19 vaccine: Chakwera says AstraZeneca jab to give immunity, local scientists sequencing virus
President Lazarus Chakwera on Sunday evening announced that Malawi– has finally secured doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which government will give to “as many citizens as possible” for immunity against the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Chakwera disclosed this on Sunday evening when he addressed the nation on the ongoing war against the Covid-19 pandemic, describing the acquisition of the vaccine as a breakthrough in the raging fight.
“The first consignment of the vaccine will arrive at the end of February in readiness for roll out in March, starting with 20 percent of the population, which will prioritize frontline workers, the elderly and those with underlying conditions,” said Chakwera.
President Chakwera said Malawi’s scientists in local labs will verify the safety of AstraZeneca’s Covid jab and said he will disseminate the information “so that no one is misled by social media lies and propaganda against vaccinations that the scientific community has worked hard to provide to save lives.”
In his address, aired live on state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Chakwera also announced that, for the first time, Malawi’s scientists at the Malawi Liverpool Welcome Trust (MLW) lab at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre now have the capacity to sequence the virus that causes Covid-19, a development he described as another breakthrough in the fight against the pandemic.
He added that Malawi has partnered with the African and US Centres for Disease Control to bring the same capacity to the National Public Health lab in Lilongwe.
“Being able to sequence the virus will reduce our reliance on labs in South Africa for that service. As a demonstration of the significance of this viral sequencing capacity, it has been confirmed that the new strain of the virus from South Africa is indeed here in Malawi,” said Chakwera.
Chakwera said it was right to treat the new wave with the seriousness it demanded and stay the course in preventing it from spreading.
The President further said he has directed the Ministry of Health to ensure that “our scientists at the Malawi College of Medicine are fully engaged in these developments within our labs”.
He said: “Taking ownership of our own scientific research into this virus is not only important for national pride, but also for national security in ensuring the credibility and safety of policies and programs that Government implements. One practical example where our scientists will be needed as a security measure is in the roll out of the acquired vaccine.”
The Malawi leader then paid tribute to people who have succumbed to Covid-19, saying “we devote ourselves to honour their memory by complying with the measures for stopping this virus from spreading”.
President Chakwera said the past week alone, the country lost 161 people to Covid-19 including legendary musician Mtebeti Wambali Mkandawire.
Paying his tribute, Chakwera described Wambali as “Malawi’s greatest musical icon and champion of her cultural heritage.”
He said: “We join the bereaved families of all 161 people in mourning their passing.”
During the same address, President Chakwera also updated the nation on the progress the country has made on testing, containment and treatment of Covid-19.
For instance, on testing, the President said out of the 77 testing sites he ordered to be established, he reported that 62 have been completed, while 51 500 testing kits have been distributed countrywide.
“We have also stocked our warehouse with 150 000 testing kits, which will last us the whole month of February while a new consignment is on the way,” he said.
And on treatment, Chakwera had this to say, “last week I announced that we would be recruiting an additional 1 380 medical personnel to send to the frontlines of the fight. I am happy to report that 1 128 of these have been identified, and they will be receiving their letters of appointment in the next 48 hours, while interviews continue to recruit the remaining 252.
“Today we have opened the field hospital at Bingu National Stadium with 240 beds. In fact, 80 patients from Bwaila Hospital and KCH have already been transferred there and are receiving high-quality life-saving care as we speak. We owe our thanks for this accomplishment to the Malawi Engineering Institution”.
Meanwhile, commentators have urged government to open dialogue and intensify awareness on vaccine saying its acceptance is influence by several factors.
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It seems, president Chakwera is telling lies to Malawians. He has acquired the vaccine, and will be in the country February and start the jab in march. First and foremost, European countries are struggling to get the vaccine,to reach there countries and some, it’s only next month they will be receiving, which is march. Is it maybe Malawi is the lucky nation to bypass European countries who are struggling to get the vaccine and reach Malawi first, that’s totally impossible. Mr President can you tell Malawians the truth. It seems that, the president has acquired the vaccine from India via South Africa then Malawi, which is the cheapest option and endangers Malawian lives which will be at high risk. To remind president Chakwera, Germany, France, Spain, Italy etc they are still waiting to receive their orders of the vaccine for their countries. My fellow Malawians, be careful, don’t be misled by Chakwera, it’s time for him to tell the nation, the truth about the vaccine, and let him publicise to the nation all relevant documents, to prove were he has acquired the vaccine from. Fellow Malawians open your eyes for understanding. These politicians misled innocent citizens. Have a big question mark for president Chakwera’s speech. Fellow Malawians the only thing is to take all necessary measures ,advise from hospitals, the covid committees etc be safe and not to be misled by politicians.
Testing Testing on Malawians
Am speaking in parables,zz
Let’s watch out
Auzeni zoona anthu a Chakwera kuti vaccine ndi ma Benefit aku AOU simunagule sizopangirapo kampeni apa mwayaluka. Tamva ku South Africa akunena kuti maiko osauka apukumukira kumeneko ndi all illigal immigrants amene ali ku South Africa. I heared who so called Nkhumbize Kadondo ngati kuti mwachita ku gula. Truth gaves light. Ndalama mwachita nazo chani inu zimene mukuti mwagulirira vaccine. Tidziwepo pamenepa.
Since goverment officials are vips. Ayambe kulandira the syringe of satan iwowo. Anthu akufa ndi vaccine. so wakumva amve.
Chakwera and baby chilima must be the first to receive the jab. What ever shall happen to them we shall loose nothing.
How do you verify the vaccine after it’s already acquired? Isn’t that foolishness?
Tifwenge. This lying talk talk president will get most of us killed. Even the uk is failing to vaccinate its people despite using war time rules to prioritise and manufacture. Teachers and health workers will be vaccinated in late summer. Kuti vaccine azatigaile Ife amphawife mpaka Tonse kulandila silero. This man is really a lying m’busa always just talking rubbish like made up stories at the pulpit. He thinks we are a mbuzi congregation.2023 is when the rest of the world gets it.
Is it real vaccine or fake version? If AstraZeneca is failing to fulfil its contractual obligation in Europe, will it fulfil in Malawi? At least if it was Russian Sputnik, or Chinese Sinovac, I would have agreed.
Been thinking and saying the same. EU is desperate to get their pre-ordered vaccines. UK hasn’t got enough supply as well. UK has so far vaccinated 8 million’ish people. This is small proportion
AstraZeneca is supplying the vaccines on first come first in first out. UK ordered the vaccine many moons ago while the vaccine was under trials in May 2020. The EU ordered their vaccines in August 2020 but still haven’t got their share of vaccines.
In the light of these, it is easy to work out where Malawi falls in the queue. The other challenge is getting enough vaccines for vaccinatable Malawians, many millions of course.
Paja munati we are all in this together. Therefore let us not see ministers and their families in the forefront receiving the vaccine ahead of their time.
Kulubwa lubwa basi asankhokhala kaye chite mpaka vaccine ifike. Walk talk. Kaya ndiye inu aChakwera ndi phumalo muntha kukhala pa u Pulesident wa AOU kaya. Mpuma kwambiri.
This is a nice move, Mr Presidente but make sure you dont force anyone to take covid jab if anything people should receive it voluntarily. Some of us dont use medicine yet we’re getting old.
German draft doesn’t recommend AstraZeneca jab for over-65s
January 28, 2021
BERLIN (AP) — A draft recommendation from Germany’s vaccination advisory committee calls for offering the AstraZeneca vaccine only to people aged 18-64 for now, citing what it says is insufficient data to judge its effectiveness for older people.
Follow AP coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at:
https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
As it stands at the moment, Africa (-South Africa may be) will not see vaccines until next year or 2023. Poor countries headed by India and South Africa are trying to beg rich nations to share the vaccines. As to whether that happens depends on them (the rich) as they hold all the intellectual property. WHO is also doing the begging on our behalf. Fingers 🤞.
Kabwafu you are being very realistic about the situation and quite frankly that is the way to look at things.
Muoneni kutuwq ali mbuu. India yapanga vaccine wao ndipo akugawa kea ma neighbours for free
Kodi inu a Malawi azanga mudakhala bwanji?Kuno kwahtu tili ndi ma scientist a nkhani nkhani mzipatala ndi ma laboratory athu.Ena ali ndi ma PHD ndipo inu mukufuna kunena kuti kunja kokha ndiye kuli ma scientist.Kuderera basi ndi nsanje ndizimene mumadziwa.
Q chitsiru inu. Tikulephera kupanga panadol ndiye katemera? Nanga ma katemera inawa sitipanga bwanji. Kutuwa uli mbuuu ndi nzeru zomwe
olo ARV wa HIV sanapangepo, so what are you on about
Anapita kukasaka ndalama azingolhalirira mademo oti akwazere ndalama kumeneko ngati sanapite ku school. The went to look fo greener pasture nsipu wobiriwira. Inu muzingophunzitsa wopindula ndi ena. Zili ngati all products are from Africa and finished in Europe and USA.
when you say “our scientists” do you mean those white people who came here to work in health organisations such as Liverpool welcome Trust, John Hopkins, etc? if that is the case then were are a doomed nation
Sorry, what is your point? Why talk about skin colour?
We have Latif Ndeketa and Kondwani Jambo on viruses. Indeed they are local scientists at MLW
So why have they not made our own vaccine yet. Ndipo forget about the covid vaccine even just ARVS for HIV
I’m so pleased to hear the AstraZeneca vaccine will be rolled out shortly in Malawi. Being 70+ years of age, I have just been given it in the UK and am pleased to report the side effects were few – a little stiffness, fatigue, headache for a day. In 10 days time, my immunity to this terrible virus that has killed more than 100,000 people in the UK will start. Don’t believe conspiracy theories about this vaccine: we desperately need it if we are ever to get back to normality.
“Malawi’s scientists in local labs will verify the safety of AstraZeneca’s Covid jab “. What, exactly, is that supposed to mean? What, exactly, are they supposed to do? Kwangofuna kugawana ma allowance a Covid apa. Mxii! Ase!
They wouldn’t even have a clue where to start from.
Which scientists are you talking about? Why did they not make their own vaccines? Can we trust such people? Just start rolling out the vaccine to prevent further deaths. Covid-19 does not select its victims: rich and poor. This should be a wake up call for government officials to consider equipping our hospitals to better standards. The previous governments forsook the public hospitals and made them rot. Use our taxes wisely Mr. President. Motive the health personnel. Renovate the hospitals and build more hospitals.
Is this the same Astra Zeneca that was taken to task last week by the EU upon realisation that it will not be able to supply 75 million doses of the same vaccine in the agreed time. Bwana Chakwera please be up to date with the current affairs so that you minimise the promises you make. Maybe you should have initially skipped the timeline.
UK is organizing 350 million doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for its citizens and former colonies like Malawi. It needs only 130 million doses for itself the rest will be distributed to former colonies and may not be for free.
If that is the case 200 million vaccines is a joke. Nanga India was a colony too
Just forgot to put 2023 as the year I believe.
hahaaaa
Hehe if you are talking about underlying conditions in Malawi, then it’s everyone.
I like the way our colonial masters treated innoculation and vaccinations in the 1940s and 1950s. They would follow us in the bush – everyone would get a jab regardless!
Hahahaha mpaka in the bush eti? Kkkkkkkkk