Government upbeat on AstraZeneca vaccine efficacy

The Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 has dismissed rising safety fears over the immunizations with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

The development follows a move by some countries in Europe and Asia to suspend immunizations over concerns about an alleged link to blood clots.

But updating the nation on Sunday evening on Covid-19 situation in the country, Secretary for Health Dr Charles Mwansambo said so far Malawi has not registered any adverse effects since commencement of the vaccine administration.

“Indeed it’s true that some countries have suspended the roll out of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, these are countries like Norway, however this decision has been condemned by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

However, despite such a suspension, we haven’t noticed any adverse effect to all those people who have be inoculated with the jab right here in Malawi, and we have all assurance that this vaccine is safe,” said Dr Mwansambo.

Meanwhile, Malawi has registered no Covid-19 related death in the past 24 hours after a long time.

“During the past 24 hours, a total of 47 new Covid-19 cases have been registered in the country but gladly no death occurred during this period.

Still, there are still 5355 active walking out there being treated in our communities who still have Covid-19 that means we are still not out of woods yet,” cautioned Dr Wilfred Chalamira Nkhoma, co-chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19.

Malawi is currently inoculating the AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab to its citizens prioritising frontline health workers, those with underlying health conditions, security officers and journalists.