Despite numerous efforts to encourage more people to get Covid – 19 jab, only 36 percent of Malawi population has been vaccinated. This is due to misinformation,

Council for Non Governmental Organization (CONGOMA) and Malawi Health Equity Network (MEHN) have observed.

In a statement marking three years since Covid -19 was declared a pandemic, CONGOMA’s   Communications officer, Mphatso Jezman said most Malawians are at the risk of contacting and spreading the disease should it hit again. “There are a lot of mysteries surrounding vaccines in Malawi and people are misinformed. This needs to be addressed. there is need for tailor-made messages targeting different groups of people in order to make progress.” She said.

“This year, the clarion call is ‘never again’ meaning the COVID-19 tragedy must never again be repeated and the devastation to human life should never happen again.

Malawi is among the least vaccinated with only 36 percent vaccinated against Africa’s 29 percent and the global 65 percent. Malawi was supposed to vaccinate at least 70 percent of its people by 2022 but the target has not been reached due to resistance and misinformation. This means more people might continue being infected,” Jezman explained.

“Low demand for the vaccines among Malawians and access remain the main impediments in Malawi and Africa in general.”

Jezman said Malawi has not been spared from effects of COVID 19 that revolves around social, economic and political angles and immensely on the elderly and people with disabilities.

She said the uptake of the vaccine has not been encouraging as the targets have not been met.

“This has been triggered by reduced numbers of people being recorded on daily basis. In fact due to the reduced daily cases, the ministry of health is providing such updates on weekly basis.

“The fact that cases are being recorded on routine basis is a clear indication that Covid – 19 still exist and there is need to take precautionary measures,” she added.

MEHN Programme Director Davies Mwachumu has since appealed to Malawi Government to use civil society groups so that Covid 19 messages reaches people through door to door campaign.

The campaign was organized with help from The Global Call to Action against Poverty and The People’s Vaccines.

Malawi Health Equity Network also took part in the campaign as a stakeholder n Health issues in Malawi.