[Photo: KTN News]
The Ministry of Health is calling on parents to avail their children aged between 15 and 17 years for a Covid-19 vaccine dose at the different vaccination centres countrywide.
The ministry however says the teens are only receiving the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
The roll-out which began on 23rd of November 2021, follows the approval by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“In view of emergency use authorization by Pharmacy and Poisons Board and following the World Health Organization recommendation, I direct that we open vaccination of young people with Pfizer from Tuesday, 23rd November lowering the applicable age to 15 years and above. The estimated population of this group is approximately 5.7 million,” said Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe during a Covid-19 press release in November 2021.
According to Vaccines Deployment Taskforce chairperson Willis Akhwale, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board is still analyzing data on the other vaccines that might also be considered.
“There’s still evaluation of Moderna and all other vaccines that might be used in vaccinating the younger population.”
Kenya plans to fully vaccinate 19 million adults by the end of June 2022, and the entire teenage population of 5.8 million by the end of December 2022.
The Ministry of Health has laid out plans to administer at least 20 million vaccine doses between January and June 2022.
It has also set specific targets for all 47 county governments, according to their population proportions.