The World Health Organisation (WHO) has assured Malawians about the efficacy of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine which will be rolled out in March.

Speaking during the daily Covid-19 update in Lilongwe, WHO Representative for Malawi Nonhlanhla Rosemary Dlamini said the vaccine is suitable and effective for Malawi.

Dlamini added that despite the South African government suspending the administration of the similar jab over its efficacy against the new strain, Malawians should be not concerned because the study was done in younger age group.

She said Malawians should be very assured from a scientific point of view that the inoculation is effective and that the country`s made a right decision in choosing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

“It’s actually following the science as WHO has put it out, the scrutiny was done, due diligence has been done and WHO has put that assurance that that the vaccine is safe and it works.

“And I just want to remind everyone that the technology that’s used to make the AstraZeneca vaccine, it the same technology that we used for one of the vaccines that we are already using in Malawi,” said Dlamini.

Comments by the WHO come amid ongoing public skepticism about the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca jab in increasing the body`s immunity against the virus.

And on his part Secretary for Health, Dr Charles Mwansambo who was speaking during the same briefing observed that the country`s Covid-19 positivity rate continues declining.

Dr Mwansambo has however appealed to people in the country to continue adhering to all Coronavirus precautionary measures saying the battle is not yet over.

“Malawi has registered 203 new cases, these 203 cases have come from 1361 tests that we did in the last 24 hours so that gives us a positivity rate of 14.9%,” said Dr Mwansambo.

Malawi will start administering the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine next month.