NAIROBI,Kenya, Feb, 4 – The government has launched a COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign targeting at least 10 million people in 10 days.
Chiefs and their Assistants will be at the center of the drive that is hoping to raise the number of the vaccinated in the country to at least 25 million.
A higher uptake will raise the ideal herd immunity and put a further distance between the country and the possibility of another lockdown or isolation in global travel forced by the virus and its variants.
Interior Cabinet Secretary , Dr. Fred Matiang’i, directed County Commissioners and Chiefs to exploit their vast grassroots network and sensitize the public on the benefits of the vaccine.
“All our administrators have been given a target. We must reach out to wananchi through structured engagement and help the Ministry of Health administer at least a million doses per day.”
The CS who was speaking at Dagoretti during the launch of the drive challenged government officials to help rebut falsehoods peddled against the vaccine.
“Our officers right from the County Commissioners up to the Assistant Chiefs are under instructions to deploy the power of persuasion and explain to the people why these vaccines are important under the prevailing circumstances,” he said.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe appealed to Kenyans to take the vaccines as a civic responsibility saying senior State officials had led by example.
“Our president was the first person to receive the vaccine. We, the Cabinet Secretaries and other government officials, have been immunized. You have the responsibility to protect yourself and the people around you through the power of enlightened self-interest.
The Ministry of Health launched the vaccination drive in March 2021 with 1,120,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility.
So far, 5,370,210 people have been fully vaccinated, while 6,434,138 have received the first dose (As of Thursday 3,2022).
Meanwhile, 137,031 booster doses have been administered, and the country’s average adult vaccination rate currently stands at 19.7 percent.
Nairobi County accounts for the largest share of the vaccinated with 39.2 percent of the city residents fully vaccinated, while Tana River County has only managed 4.7 percent of its residents, the lease for any county.
As at January 28, 2022, 24,648,720 vaccines were lying in stock. The drive launched Thursday will boost the government’s efforts to cover the rest of the population.
The vaccine rollout strategy varies from one country to another. Last year, Kenya prioritized vaccinating specific vulnerable groups, but the focus now shifts to vaccinating as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
Kagwe’s Directive On Vaccination Directive
As part of the strategies to combat the spread of the virus, failure to provide proof of vaccination would see Kenyans be incapable of accessing KRA services, Education, Immigration Services, Hospital and Prison Visitation, NTSA and Port Services among others.
With millions of Kenyans nationwide said to heavily rely on public transportation to reach to their various destinations, those using buses, rail transport including SGR and air transport will also be required to comply with the directive.
“All motorable operators, that is Drivers, Conductors, Bodaboda riders, Pilots, Air Hostesses and all others working in the sector should be fully vaccinated and carry proof of vaccination at all times,” he said while initially making the announcement.
Kagwe revealed that the ministry of transport alongside that of interior and coordination of national government will enforce the directive alongside other relevant stakeholders.
Access to bars, restaurants and hotels, public parks and other recreation facilities would also have demanded proof of vaccination.
High Court Judge Antony Mrima had initially suspended the order until the matter was heard and determined after following an application by a city businessman.
Appearing before Justice Mrima who issued the orders, Enock Aura who filed the application had argued that the state had entered into secretive agreements with pharmaceutical companies guaranteeing the constant sale of the vaccine.
Aura in his application also cited the lack of information documenting the side effects brought about by the vaccines.
“Health cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has not disclosed to the Kenyan population what exactly is contained in the COVID-19 vaccines, or possible side effects, which are now being administered,” he said.
In his submission through lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, Aura who sued the Attorney General, CS Kagwe, Transport cabinet secretary James Macharia,the Inspector General of police among others further argued that he directive was not in the best interest of Kenyans who ave a right to protect their health and safety.
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