Kenya Receives First Batch of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

Kenya has received the first batch of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

A Lufthansa flight carrying the consignment of 141,600 doses arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday night. 

 Health Ministry CAS Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, who received the vaccines at the airport, said the delivery marks a milestone in the country.

This was the first batch of the 13.3 million J&J doses that the government has procured through the Africa Vaccines Acquisition Trust that was set up in November 2020.

The Health Ministry said priority will be given to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it is easier to store and requires less logistical and operational costs.

“All the vaccines are effective, there is none that is superior, we urge Kenyans to go get vaccinated, getting a vaccine will save you from ending up in an ICU bed,” Dr. Mwangangi said.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the third COVID-19 jab to come into the country after the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines.

The government targets to inoculate at least 10 million Kenyans by December 2021 and 26 million by June 2022. As of September 3rd, Kenya had fully vaccinated 2.97 percent of its adult population.