Uncle Harvest on MALAWI'S SLOW COVID-19 VACCINE UPTAKE

At the end of the third day, just over 5400 people had received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Malawi.

This translates to 1800 people vaccinated on a daily basis.

At this rate, it will take 228 days to use up the 410 000 vaccines so far in the country. This uptake is very slow, to say the least, more so in the light of the fact that this week is open for health care workers.

The expectation was that their response would be faster and uptake higher. The 5400 figure accounts for less than fifty percent of Health Workers in the country.

This must be a source of concern. Is this a reflection of the slowness of the process? What can be done to accelerate uptake?

Is this a reflection of unwillingness? What could be the source of such unwillingness, more particularly among health workers?

Is it a reflection of a lack of confidence in the vaccine? The response by Health Workers was supposed to set an example to the rest of the population.

Poor response by this group will impact the response of the public.

The Presidential Taskforce on Covid19 and Health/Medical experts, assisted by social research specialists have a task ahead to undertake.

Civic education experts too, need to also look at how best the population must be educated.

The battle against Covid19 is real and calls for the participation of all.

More speed is needed in the vaccination programme, particularly when there are looming fears of a third wave.

As many people as possible need to be vaccinated so as for the country to create herd immunity.