In a bid to reach more people with Covid-19 vaccine, Blantyre District Health Office, will on  September 4, 2021 start setting up temporary vaccination sites in public places.

According to the Director of Health and Social Services in the district, Dr Gift Kawalazira, such places  include markets and different organizations and institutions like companies, private hospitals, schools, churches and mosques.

Dr Kawalazira said: “Our office will be conducting outreach clinics to take the vaccine to where the people are and we are advising institutions that are willing to participate in the exercise to book with our office and we will be able to send our officers, however, to avoid wastage of the vaccine they are encouraged to arrange for a minimum of ten people that are eligible for vaccine.”

He further admitted that low turnout in the designated vaccination centres is one of the reasons for coming up with the initiative.

“Currently we are registering at least 400 people coming to our designated facilities on daily bases so our intension is to increase the numbers,” said Dr Kawalazira.

Health rights expert, George Jobe, has described the move as “a positive development” saying it will assist in reaching out to many people.

“This means that there are chances that as many people as possible will be reached including those who have travelling challenges such as the elderly,” said Jobe.

As of Tuesday, about 98, 000 people had received AstraZeneca vaccine while about 15, 000 had received Jonson and Johnson in the district.