The Ministry of Health has announced that Kenya is set to receive the first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine in January 2021.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said Kenya has ordered 24 million doses of the vaccine as the government also explores ways of partnering with Chinese organisations that have developed COVID-19 jabs.
He said the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine is far cheaper and is easier to store compared to the others.
“The Ministry and the Kenya Medical Research Institute are carrying out tests. The Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored in an ordinary fridge unlike the Pfizer one which has to be kept in extremely cold temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius,” Kagwe said.
He also added that the vaccine is also easy to distribute.
Dr Patrick Amoth, the Health Director General said the ministry submitted its proposal to the WHO’s Covax programme by December 7.
Amoth said Gavi has signed agreements with manufacturers of about nine vaccine candidates but the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be ideal for Kenya because it fits within its cold chain supply system.
“The first 24 million doses, which will be for free are from Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (Gavi). We have set aside another sh10 billion to cover an additional 10 per cent of the population,” Dr Amoth said.
Health workers, police officers, the elderly and teachers will be the first to receive the vaccine.
The ministry of health added that people who came into contact with crowds and those with two or more medical conditions will be the first to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
Kagwe said that the ministry is training health workers and the team that will distribute the vaccines once they land in Kenya.
Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi said 49 million people will get two doses per individual at first.
She said 1.2 million healthworkers will be vaccinated, some 5.3 million elderly people and 1.2 million of people with medication condition.
“The vaccination will utilise existing mechanisms, which will be offered at hospitals by qualified clinicians and supplemented with targeted outreach at community level.” she concluded.