Health authorities in Malawi have burned 19,610 expired doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines, making it the first African country to publicly destroy its expired vaccines.
The authorities said the move will reassure the public that any vaccines they do get are safe.
The World Health Organization (WHO) initially advised countries against destroying expired doses, but has now changed its advice.
Malawi received 102,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the African Union on 26 March and used almost 80%.
Uptake of the vaccine in Malawi has been low and health workers hope the move will increase public confidence.
Out of a population of about 18 million people, the country has recorded 34,232 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,153 deaths.
Malawi’s Principal Health Secretary told the BBC that it was unfortunate they had to destroy the vials but the benefits outweighed the risks.
“When news spread that we had out-of-date vaccines, we noticed that people were not coming to our clinics to get immunized,” said Dr Charles Mwansambo.
“If we don’t burn them, people we will think that we are using expired vaccines in our facilities and if they don’t come Covid-19, will hit them hard.”
He added that the burning was “just a formality” as the doses had already been destroyed.
On the streets of the capital Lilongwe, people have expressed worry about the safety of the vaccine.
“I would like to get vaccinated but how sure am I if I go to the hospital I won’t be given the expired vaccines?” shopkeeper Jack Chitete told the BBC.
“I have heard a lot of stories about people getting blood clots and some even dying after getting immunised. Are those people telling lies? If it is the truth, why are we being given the same vaccines?” asked another shopkeeper, Mphatso Chipenda.
The link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and rare blood clots is not yet proven, and health experts say the risk from Covid-19 is far higher, so advise people to get vaccinated if they can.
