Summary:
- Kenya expected to acquire the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in February.
- Health workers, police and teachers to be given priority.
- Health Cabinet Secretary Kagwe says the vaccination will not be mandatory.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has revealed that Kenya had ordered the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine which is expected in the country by February next month.
The COVID-19 vaccine produced by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca has been tested and approved in various countries such as UK and USA.
Among the first people to be vaccinated includes the Health workers, police and teachers among the elderly people. However, CS Kagwe clarified that the vaccination will not be mandatory.
“We have got a system which we have issued to indicate who will be first to be offered the vaccines and it is important to use that word offered because there is no mandatory vaccination of anybody, it is for those people who would wish to do so.” Said Kagwe.
The ministry also said it is in negotiations with other vaccine producing companies such as Pfizer of China to ensure the country does not depend on one vaccine type alone.
“We are looking at all the vaccines that have been approved by the World Health Organisation. The ideal thing to do is to use several so that we can increase the chances of efficacy,” Kagwe said.
