Government withdraws expired AstraZeneca jabs

Government says it has instituted proper procedures in making sure that expired Coronavirus vaccines are well disposed of.

The development follows the expiry of the last batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine which government secured through the African Union (AU).

But updating the nation on the Covid-19 situation in the country, co-chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 Khumbize Chiponda said government will withdraw the expired jab from the vaccine administration.

“I want to assure Malawians that indeed the last batch that we got from AU it came with a short expiry date, when it was coming we had about three to four week to give it before it expired and indeed the expiry date is Tuesday, 13th April 2021.

“As a Ministry, we already have procedures and ways of how we disposal off all expired vaccines and as well as expired drugs, so be assured that this batch is going to be withdrawn from the vaccines which are going to be given to Malawians,” said Chiponda.

She added that government has used over 90% of the jab it secured from the AU before it expired on Tuesday this week.

“The positive thing about this vaccine is that we have already used over 90% of this jab before it expired this week and Malawians should be assured that the expired jabs will be well disposed of,” said the co-chairperson.

In February this year, government secured 100,000 additional AstraZeneca vaccines through AU which was intended for the protection of the country`s health workers.

As of Tuesday, 13th April 2021 a total of 229, 220 people across the country have been inoculated with the AstraZeneca.

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