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Ministry Clarifies Second Jab Administration

There are confirmed reports that the country has registered a new COVID-19 variant and accessing AstraZeneca vaccine is one way of dealing with the disease There are confirmed reports that the country has registered a new COVID-19 variant and accessing AstraZeneca vaccine is one way of dealing with the disease - file photo

The Ministry of Health has said that people that qualify for the second jab are those that have reached 12 weeks from the day they received the first jab.

Spokesperson for the ministry Joshua Malango has told Zodiak Online that those that were eligible to access the vaccine on Thursday 3rd June, 2021 were those that received the first jab on the first day of the exercise.

“People should check on their AstraZeneca cards, the dates they are to receive the second jab and should add four weeks to that to make it 12 weeks for them to access the second jab,” said Malango.

Malango also said while administration of the second jab has started, those who did not access the first jab should access the service at any public health facility.

On Thursday, Zodiak Online received complaining reports from some citizens that health facilities where they accessed the AstraZeneca first jab were not offering the second jab as earlier announced.

Health expert Professor Maureen Chirwa has urged government and partners to use all avenues that include traditional means like pasting posters at in trees, indicating dates when people should go and access the second jab.

“As we all know there are a lot of myths surrounding AstraZeneca, government and other stakeholders need to do more in sensitizing masses on the second jab, otherwise some will not access the second jab,” said Professor Chirwa.

Health Rights Activist Maziko Matemba who himself received the second jab on Thursday at Area 18 clinic in Lilongwe has pleaded with others to do the same when they clock 12 weeks from the day, they received the first jab.

“Am excited that I have finished the dose and the good news is that so far the country has not registered any serious case after receiving the first jab,” said Matemba.

There are confirmed reports that the country has registered a new COVID-19 variant and accessing AstraZeneca vaccine is one way of dealing with the disease.

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