Kenya has received 130,000 more doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the Democratic Republic of Congo after the Central African country was unable to administer about 1.3 million doses before expiry on June 24.
Meanwhile, Kenyans who received their jabs in March will start receiving the second dose beginning early next week to keep in tabs with the 12-weeks recommended period.
Meanwhile
Health authorities in Malawi have incinerated 19,610 expired doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, saying it will reassure the public that any vaccines they do get are safe.
It is the first African country to publicly do this.
The World Health Organization initially urged countries not to destroy expired doses but has now changed its advice.
Uptake of the vaccine in Malawi has been low and health workers hope the move will increase public confidence.
Out of a population of about 18 million people, the country has recorded 34,232 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,153 deaths.
But the expiry date on the labels was 13 April and officials say this wasn't enough time to use them all.
So in a 30-minute process, officials destroyed thousands of Covid-19 vaccines, leaving behind just broken pieces of the vials holding the liquid.
IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES
image captionMalawi's Health Minister Khumbize Chiponda (l) helped put the vaccines into a hospital incineration chamber
Malawi's principal health secretary told the BBC that it was unfortunate they had to destroy the vaccines but the benefits outweighed the risks.
"When news spread that we had out-of-date vaccines, we noticed that people were not coming to our clinics to get immunised," said Dr Charles Mwansambo.
"If we don't burn them, people will think that we are using expired vaccines in our facilities and if they don't come, Covid-19 will hit them hard."
The government says it has adequate stocks of vaccines and has urged everyone over 18 years old to get a jab.
In addition to the 102,000 from the African Union, it has received 300,000 doses under the Covax vaccine-sharing facility and 50,000 sourced direct from India.
However, future supplies could be threatened by India's decision to halt exports.
www.bbc.com
Seems @Ngimanene na Muchere was right
Meanwhile, Kenyans who received their jabs in March will start receiving the second dose beginning early next week to keep in tabs with the 12-weeks recommended period.
Meanwhile
Health authorities in Malawi have incinerated 19,610 expired doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, saying it will reassure the public that any vaccines they do get are safe.
It is the first African country to publicly do this.
The World Health Organization initially urged countries not to destroy expired doses but has now changed its advice.
Uptake of the vaccine in Malawi has been low and health workers hope the move will increase public confidence.
Out of a population of about 18 million people, the country has recorded 34,232 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,153 deaths.
- Africa Live: Latest updates on this and other stories
- Why are vaccines going to waste in Africa?
- DR Congo in race against time to vaccinate people
But the expiry date on the labels was 13 April and officials say this wasn't enough time to use them all.
So in a 30-minute process, officials destroyed thousands of Covid-19 vaccines, leaving behind just broken pieces of the vials holding the liquid.
image captionMalawi's Health Minister Khumbize Chiponda (l) helped put the vaccines into a hospital incineration chamber
Malawi's principal health secretary told the BBC that it was unfortunate they had to destroy the vaccines but the benefits outweighed the risks.
"When news spread that we had out-of-date vaccines, we noticed that people were not coming to our clinics to get immunised," said Dr Charles Mwansambo.
"If we don't burn them, people will think that we are using expired vaccines in our facilities and if they don't come, Covid-19 will hit them hard."
The government says it has adequate stocks of vaccines and has urged everyone over 18 years old to get a jab.
In addition to the 102,000 from the African Union, it has received 300,000 doses under the Covax vaccine-sharing facility and 50,000 sourced direct from India.
However, future supplies could be threatened by India's decision to halt exports.
Malawi burns thousands of expired AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses
Health officials hope the event will increase public confidence in getting the vaccination.
www.bbc.com
