Malawi’s health authority has announced that it has burn 19,610 expired doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine brought in the country.
The authority assures the public that only safe vaccines will be allowed.
Malawi’s Principal Health Secretary, Dr Charles Mwansambo said that it was unfortunate they had to destroy the vials but the benefits outweighed the risks.
The World Health Organization initially urged countries not to destroy expired doses but has now changed its advice.
In Malawi, out of a population of about 18 million people, the country has recorded 34,232 confirmed coronavirus cases and recorded 1,153 deaths.
Malawi received 102,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the African Union on 26 March and used almost 80%.
But the expiry date on the labels was 13 April so vials were taken out of the cold chain.