By Dorica Mtenje

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi has received additional 403,220 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine just a week after 277,080 doses arrived in the country.

Malawi government through Ministry of Health said the additional doses of vaccine landed in the country on March 5, 2022.

In a statement, the Secretary for the Ministry of Health,Charles Mwasambo, said the second consignment of the COVID-19 vaccine is donation from the Government of Japan through the COVAX Facility.

Mwasambo said the consignment is an addition to the 277,080 doses which the country received last Saturday, the 26th of February.

He also said as of 1st March, 2022, there were about 1,098,898 people who had received the first dose of AstraZeneca, and 399,078 of them had received the second dose and about 699,820 people are yet to receive their second dose.

Mwasambo added that in the light of the arrival of the consignment.

“Ministry of Health would like to remind all people who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to go to their nearest vaccination centers for their second dose when it is time to do so,” reads part of the statement.

Mwasambo therefore encourages eligible persons to get vaccinated as there is enough COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

He also reminded the public that the COVID-19 vaccines are an additional measure for preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The Ministry has applauded Japanese government and other partners for the support in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country