Ministry targets 100%vaccination coverage

Ministry of Health says it is optimistic of achieving 100 percent vaccination of under-14 children against polio, typhoid, measles and rubella as well as vitamin A supplement roll-out in a new nationwide campaign.

During a tour of some districts to assess the progress of the exercise, the ministry’s spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe yesterday said about 80 percent of the targeted children were vaccinated by Thursday since the campaign rolled out on Monday.

“We were targeting to vaccinate at least nine million children during this nationwide campaign, but looking at the overwhelming response so far, we are certain that we will beat the target,” he said.

Chikumbe said the campaign has received a positive response unlike the Covid-19 vaccination which is still facing resistance due to some misconceptions.

He attributed the success of the new campaign to coordination among stakeholders, including hea l th sur vei ll a n ce assistants and primary school teachers.

Chikumbe has since asked parents and guardians, whose children are yet to be immunised, to take advantage of the campaign before it ends on Sunday.

Sarah Kachala, a nurse in Chikwawa District, said most of the children in her area were vaccinated due to a community awareness campaign conducted prior to the exercise.

Malawi declared a polio outbreak last year after decades of zero polio cases, following two reported cases in Lilongwe and Blantyre. Three additional cases from Mozambique were also reported in Mwanza, Phalombe and Mulanje districts following proper coordination between health authorities in Malawi and Mozambique.

Chikumbe also said Malawi has been registering measles and typhoid cases due poor hygiene.