MALAWI – The Malawi Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has announced that eligible Malawians will receive COVID-19 vaccine booster doses in an effort to combat coronavirus.

The COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to be administered at least three months after the primary series of vaccination is aimed at restoring decreasing immunity among individuals.

The government plans to roll out booster shots comes after the taskforce made changes in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccines following recommendations from experts and a review of emerging information pertaining to the vaccines.

Currently, Malawi administers three types of COVID-19 vaccine namely Johnson &Johnson, Pfizer and AstraZeneca to contain the spread of widespread virus.

The taskforce has changed the administration of the Johnson and Johnson (J & J) COVID-19 vaccine from a single dose to a two-dose vaccine to be given 12 weeks apart as part of Malawi’s commitment to increase vaccine use.

The taskforce also advises people who received the first dose of the J & J COVID-19 vaccine to receive the second dose of the same vaccine as a booster dose.

Consequently, the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and the J & J vaccine will both be given twice at an interval of 12 weeks apart to those aged 18 and above while the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine will be given twice at an interval of four weeks apart to those aged 12 years and above.

During a coronavirus update, Co-Chairperson of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Khumbize Chiponda said high risk groups are to be given priority in the administration of booster doses.

“High-risk groups including people suffering from additional medical conditions often co-occurring with a primary condition and elderly persons above 60 years above should be prioritized for booster doses,” she emphasized.

Chiponda said further analysis is being conducted to ensure that when COVID-19 vaccines are administered, a person should receive maximum benefits associated with the type of vaccine they receive.

Malawi receives 300,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses

In more recent developments, Malawi received nearly 300,00 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that were provided by the Japanese Government through the COVAX Facility, a global initiative intended to secure equitable access to vaccines.

The vaccine donation from Japan is part of about 2 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that Japan plans to deliver to Malawi after the country’s stocks were depleted last December.

Health authorities in Malawi received the first COVID-19 vaccine consignment from Japan to a country in sub-Saharan Africa which arrived at the right time when the country needed the donation the most.

Over 700,000 Malawians had already received the first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine before the country administered all doses of the vaccine.

Last month, Malawi announced that it has set itself a target of vaccinating 50% by June in support of the World Health Organization’s call for each country to vaccinate at least 70% of their population by June.

The country has so far vaccinated only about 7% of the population amid continued vaccine hesitancy largely stemming from misconceptions and doubts over its efficacy.

However, the frequency of shipment of the 1.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses Japan is keeping for Malawi will further support Malawi’s commitment to expand vaccine rollout across the country.

The Malawian government is also devising a plan to increase its vaccine uptake which includes increasing an ongoing door-to-door vaccination campaign

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