Kenya to Receive First COVID-19 Vaccine Consignment Next Week

Kenya is set to receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines next week ahead of the launch of the first phase of the immunization process.

State House in a dispatch on Thursday said the consignment will arrive in the country in the first week of March, adding that priority will be given to healthcare and other frontline workers.

“The first batch of the country’s Covid-19 vaccines will arrive in Kenya in the first week of March 2021. In that regard, Cabinet ratified the distribution framework for the vaccine; with the priority being given to healthcare workers, frontline workers including security personnel and teachers, vulnerable persons and groups and hospitality sector,” the dispatch stated.

In the first phase of the vaccination program, 1.25 million people including frontline healthcare workers, and all staff working in medical facilities will be inoculated. Others are workers in essential services such as security, education, and immigration.

9.7 million Kenyans above the age of 50 and those above 18 years with underlying conditions will be vaccinated in the second phase between July 2021 and June 2022.

In the third phase, 4.9 million Kenyans, especially the vulnerable populations, will receive the jab.

The Health Ministry is seeking to hire more than 23,000 healthcare workers, including 8,000 heath volunteers, to ensure the three-phased vaccination process runs smoothly.

As of Friday, Kenya had recorded 105,467 COVID-19 cases and 1,853 fatalities.