10 Million Kenyans to Benefit from Free Covid-19 Vaccine

The government has confirmed it will give free Covid-19 vaccines to millions of Kenyans next year.

Head of Immunization at the Health Ministry Dr. Collins Tabu said 10 million Kenyans will get the vaccine at no cost once it is available.

“Kenyans will be able to access the vaccine whether they can pay or not. I am able to say that confidently,” Tabu told The Standard.

He assured the country that the ministry is well equipped to handle, store, and distribute the vaccines to Kenyans.

Tabu said Kenya expects to receive at least 10 million doses through the World Health Organization-led COVAX Facility early next year.

“By then, things will be clear, but we are open to other options as they become available,” he added.

Healthcare workers and senior citizens will be given priority once the vaccines are available, followed by security officers and school children.

“As more doses become available, security agencies will be considered as well as those in schools,” he remarked.

There are about 40,000 healthcare workers in the country, and about two million elderly citizens aged above 60 years, according to government records.

Tabu said the vaccines will be administered in 10,000 government health facilities around the country.