Kenya To Consider Administering Covid-19 Booster Shots

[Photo: National Council on Aging]

Kenya may start administering Covid-19 additional shots as the government is likely to roll out COVID-19 booster shots in January 2022.

According to Acting Director General of Health Patrick Amoth, this follows observation that only five out of 15 COVID-19 patients in critical condition across the country have been fully vaccinated.

Amoth decried the slow uptake of the vaccine, urging unvaccinated Kenyans to get the available jabs.

“67 percent of those admitted in critical care are not vaccinated, while 5 percent are fully vaccinated. So even without additional shot you can see the protection accorded either with a single shot or the two shots of the vaccine in offering you close to 70 percent protection,” said Amoth.

On his part, Chairman of the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination task force Willis Akhwale pointed out that the government is currently utilizing the already available vaccines to inoculate unvaccinated Kenyans before considering booster shots.

This also comes as the government aims to vaccinate 10 million Kenyans by the end of 2021.

So far, of 9,169,969 vaccines have been administered across the country. Of these, 5,447,429 are partially vaccinated while those fully vaccinated are 3,722,540.

The uptake of the second dose among those who received the first dose is at 55.9%.  

The proportion of adults fully vaccinated is 13.7%.

Meanwhile, the government through the Ministry of Health has now announced stricter measures for unvaccinated persons as COVID-19 infections in Kenya have marked a spike.

The Ministry says Kenyans shunning the Covid-19 vaccination will not be able to access business premises.

Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi on Wednesday directed all businesses to ask for Covid-19 certificates before providing any services to customers.

This is after the National Emergency Response Committee on Covid-19 directed that all people seeking in-person government services must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination.

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