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Africa News of Thursday, 11 March 2021

Source: bbc.com

Malawi's president gets coronavirus jab

Malawi's President, Lazarus Chakwera Malawi's President, Lazarus Chakwera

Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera has received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the eastern city of Zomba, saying he chose to be among the first to be vaccinated to show that it is safe.

Malawi has received 1.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under the Covax agreement. The first 360,000 doses arrived last week, with the rest expected by the end of May.

President Chakwera received his jab at a public ceremony attended by a cross-section of people including diplomats, the clergy, religious leaders, prominent local politicians and the press.

Former president Joyce Banda and her husband also received their vaccines today, as did the Speaker of Parliament Catherine Hara among others.

President Chakwera said the AstraZeneca vaccine was found by local scientists to be safe, effective, and suitable.

β€œIn fact, as a show of good faith, I and others on this platform have volunteered to be the first to be vaccinated here so you that you can see that the vaccine is safe,” he said.