University of Malawi (Unima) has urged people in Mangochi District to get Covid-19 jabs to boost their immunity against the respiratory infection.

The call follows low Covid-19 vaccine uptake in the country since 2021 when the Ministry of Health rolled out the vaccination campaign.

Mangochi District Health Office said it targeted to vaccinate 645 015 people, but so far only 61 150 people have received their jabs.

Speaking on Tuesday during an orientation on Covid-19 vaccine for chiefs, journalists, youths and women leaders, the university’s head of Department of Fine and Performing Arts Dr Catherine Makhumula-Mtimuni said they want to complement government’s efforts to scale up Covid-19 vaccine uptake.

Mtimuni: People should get Covid jabs

She said: “We have observed that misinformation on Covid-19 is preventing people from getting their jabs.

“So, as a university, we launched My Vaccine, Our Protection Project to encourage people in the country to get vaccinated against the disease.”

Makhumula-Mtimuni said they targeted influential people in the district to help dispel the myths and misconceptions on Covid-19.

In his presentation, Unima senior lecturer in media and communication Jimmy Kainja asked the participants to dispel false information, saying delays in dealing with such issues breed more unfounded information.

“Let us use our position to propagate right information on Covid-19 and let people get the jabs,” he said.

Mangochi district health promotion officer Njoka Mwanza encouraged people to receive the Covid-19 jabs, saying the vaccine is effective against the disease.

Unima is implementing My Vaccine, Our Protection Project in Zomba, Mangochi, Dowa, Mchinji and Nkhata Bay districts as well as in Mzuzu City.

The 18-month project is running with funding from Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa.n

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