Available Soon, New Batch of AstraZeneca Vaccines

And, while a large quantity of expired AstraZeneca vaccines had to be disposed of at the end of January, the ministry is in the process of procuring more of that same brand of vaccine. Deputy Manager of the Central Health Region, Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa explained that there are still some people who want that particular brand.

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Deputy Manager, Central Health Region

“Perhaps in the next month or two we may be able to once again provide AstraZeneca. At this time we do have Pfizer available, and we also do have Johnson and Johnson in country at all districts and in all our vaccine sites.”

Marion Ali

“Would it be prudent on our part though, to invest again in AstraZeneca when based on just the reaction of the public or their lack of – just not turning out for it – it doesn’t seem to be their vaccination of choice.”

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa

“Yes, still we have people coming in asking for AstraZeneca and we do have approximately fifteen thousand people who are still due a second dose of vaccines, so we’re trying to work with our teams on the ground to go and look for these people and ensure that if AstraZeneca is available, people would want to stick to AstraZeneca. That’s what we’ve noticed, that persons who have received AstraZeneca as the first dose they come in and they ask again for AstraZeneca as the second dose. So it’s good that it would be available for us for 2022.”