The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has sounded an appeal to the country’s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to jointly work with government in sensitising the masses about Coronavirus vaccine.

According to HRDC Chairperson Gift Trapence, much as the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is safe, Malawians need to be ably informed about its efficacy for them to receive the jab.

Trapence has since assured people in the country that the vaccine is safe and effective.

“I think this is the right way to do it, because when we talk about the right to life, the responsibility is with us individuals and government has also a role to facilitate that right.

“We have to assure Malawians that if this vaccination was bad, some of us would have even gone to court to get injunction, but this vaccination is there to protect Malawians,” Trapence said.

And in her remarks, co-chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 Khumbize Chiponda has pleaded with health officers to prioritise people with disabilities and the elderly at different vaccination centers across the country.

“Let me make a special appeal to our health workers who are managing vaccination sites please let’s give special attention to those Malawians with different disabilities.

These people need to get the vaccine quicker including the elderly too, they need to be served first,” appealed Chiponda.

Over 38, 000 people across the country have so far been inoculated with Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.