Nkhata Bay intensifies Covid-19 jabs for learners

Nkhata Bay District Education Office has intensified a campaign to vaccinate children aged 12 and above to boost their immunity against Covid-19.

In January, Ministry of Health started administering Pfizer vaccine to children to complement the vaccination exercise for adults which started in March last year.

But in an interview yesterday, Nkhata Bay acting director of education, youth and sports Clement Nyirenda said the initiative to reach out to children was meeting resistance.

“The response in some schools and education zones is encouraging, but there is resistance among others,” he said.

Nyirenda said the resistance was mostly coming from parents who have not received Covid-19 jabs.

Nkhata Bay District school health and nutrition coordinator Andrews Chulu said they are engaging head teachers and school management committees to mobilise learners for vaccination.

“There has been massive response from zones in hard-to-reach areas such as Ruarwe, Usisya and Makumbo,” he said.

Chulu said Nkhata Bay Secondary School is the only boarding school where students have received Pfizer jabs.

“I appeal to other schools to emulate the example set by Nkhata Bay Secondary School,” he said.

Nkhata Bay District Education Office spokesperson Christopher Singini said he was hopeful the other schools will mobilise their learners for the jabs.

“We are giving Pfizer vaccine to learners in their respective schools so as not to inconvenience their studies,” he said.

So far, 612 learners have received their first dose of the vaccine in the district.

The initiative is supported by Malawi Red Cross  Society with funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.