Lilongwe Approves AstraZeneca to Fight Pandemic

In Malawi, a survey by the Ministry of Health to help ascertain the efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine has shown its effectiveness in fighting the coronavirus. The survey was based on current hospital admissions of COVID-19 patients across the country. The preliminary results of the findings released Saturday were based on COVID-19 admissions between June 26 and July 8 of this year. These results show that over 80% of 227 COVID-19 patients admitted during the period were those not vaccinated. And those who have only had one AstraZeneca jab were 12% while those fully vaccinated only accounted for 4%. The secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Charles Mwansambo, says it’s still too early to measure the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine based on these findings. “We are still vaccinating more and presently our vaccination status is still low. But what we have found out so far is that the majority of those that are coming in those that are not vaccinated,” he said. However, he says the findings would help end fears and doubts some Malawians had over the vaccine, which prevented them from getting vaccinated. Malawi has currently vaccinated about 400,000 people of the 11 million needed to reach herd immunity.  

SOURCE: VOA