Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has joined the call by African countries to step up regional and local manufacturing of vaccines by facilitating and fast tracking regulatory and prequalification for local production.
Speaking during the virtual world health assembly meeting, Kagwe said local production of COVID -19 vaccines is key fighting the virus.
He also called for a resolution to vaccine inequity in order to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccines for all. He further asked WHO to facilitate knowledge transfer and technology on COVID -19 vaccines in all parts of the world.
African countries in the assembly also insisted that all valid certificates for vaccines approved by WHO for emergency use must be accepted world over .
India which is the sceond worst hit country by COVID-19 after the US has since stopped shipping out vaccines.
The authorities say the situation has relented and their COVAX facility cannot afford to manufacture enough for other countries due to the need locally.
African counties have been the main consumers of the Astra Zeneca vaccine from India and are now in danger of missing out in the second jab.
However some nations including Kenya is considering procuring the Johnson and Johnson doses that only need one jab for full protection.
On Polio, Kenya’s ministry of health has asked parents and guardians to continue availing their children for polio vaccination.
The vaccination drive started on Saturday and is targeting 13 counties in danger of an outbreak. 3.6 million children of five years and below are being targeted in the one week campaign.