KENYA – The United States government has distributed additional 1.3 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Kenya through the COVAX Mechanism Facility.
The donation comes a month after the country received another consignment of 1,00,176 Pfizer vaccine from the US.
The consignment of over one million doses of the Pfizer vaccine pushes the US donations to over six million.
The arrival of the vaccine will boost Kenya’s efforts to combat the pandemic, particularly now when total confirmed cases are soaring past the 300,000 mark.
Data from John Hopkins University states that Kenya has recorded an estimate of 320,399 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 5,558 deaths.
In most coronavirus cases, those affected might experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without requiring special treatment. However, people at high-risk will have adverse signs and require medical attention.
COVID-19 vaccination is of great importance in preventing fatalities from the widespread pandemic and effective at building a high-level protection against COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health officials led by the National Taskforce on Vaccine Deployment Chairperson Dr. Willis Akhwale received the vaccines which arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
Dr Akhwale said that the ministry aims to fully vaccinate at least 19 million adults by the end of June to achieve heard immunity.
“At the same time, the focus will be reaching at least 2.9 million teens aged between 15 and 17 years with the Pfizer vaccine during the same period while ensuring that 4.2 million Kenyans who had been fully vaccinated by the end of December last year get their booster shots,” added Dr. Willis Akhwale .
Dr. Akhwale revealed that the vaccines are to be distributed to the nine regional stores nationwide to reach people through different channel outreaches and campaigns as well as ensuring that these vaccines are available within routine health services.
COVID-19 vaccination is of great importance in preventing fatalities from the widespread pandemic and effective at building a high-level protection against COVID-19.
Despite efforts to enhance access to vaccines, apathy and logistical challenges slow down their administration.
Kenya had only administered nine million doses out of the 23.2 million it had received by December last year.
The government however plans to vaccinate all adults against Covid-19 by the end of the year, according to a revised schedule.
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