During his 14th presidential address, President Uhuru Kenyatta ruled out any fears on the AstraZeneca vaccine’s safety saying its arrival was critical in the management and control of the pandemic.
“Kenya is entering a critical phase in the management and control of the pandemic, with the arrival of WHO prequalified COVID-19 vaccines
This vaccine has been tested and our medical experts are persuaded that its safety is bankable,” he said.
The president said the vaccine roll out is being done in phases, with the first phase targeting front line health workers, uniformed personnel and teachers while the second phase will target the elderly people and those with pre-existing conditions.
He directed the Ministry of Health to monitor the circulation of the new COVID-19 strains by strengthening the existing COVID-19 genomics surveillance so as to make informed policy decisions and public health interventions.
Kenya has recorded 111,935 coronavirus cases and 1,901 deaths.
