Mozambique still in the process of choosing Covid-19 vaccine – report

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Mozambique still in the process of choosing Covid-19 vaccine – report

1:16 CAT | 16 Feb 2021

File photo: O País

When the South African health authorities suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, found ineffective in combating the SA variant of Covid-19, it dashed the hopes of Mozambique also benefiting soon from doses of the same vaccine being offered by the South African state.

Asked if the promised vaccines would arrive this month, as the Ministry of Health had announced, Minister of Health Armindo Tiago replied: “We promised to have the vaccines between the months of February and March. Right now, we are in the process of selecting [vaccines], and we may have several.”

Also read: Mozambique: Government awaits notification of South Africa vaccine donation

Watch: AstraZeneca deal was sealed before new variant in South Africa – minister

The minister was speaking this Monday after an International Day of Children with Cancer event.

According to national authorities, about 70% of the Covid-19 cases recorded in Mozambique since December are the South African variant. On 18 December, authorities in South Africa announced the detection of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Also read: Covid-19: Mozambique may receive Indian vaccine – Notícias

Mozambique: Problems with AstraZeneca vaccine are “bucket of cold water”

In another development, South Africa on Monday reopened the Ressano Garcia and Ponta d’Ouro border crossings in Maputo province, causing apprehension in Mozambique about an increase in infections.

In response, Director of Surveys at the National Institute of Health, Sérgio Chicumbe, said that preventive measures to halt the spread of the pandemic would be reinforced.

By Raúl Massingue

Source: O País