Kenya thanks US for 1.8 million Pfizer doses supply
The vaccination campaign against coronavirus in Kenya has received a boost after the country got a fresh shipment of 1,898,910 doses of Pfizer vaccines from the US government.
This comes amid concerns of decline in the stock of COVID-19 vaccines in the country, especially the Moderna and AstraZeneca, which according to the ministry, are totally out of stock.
The donation, delivered by the COVAX facility arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday and was received by Ministry of Health officials led by Benjamin Murkomen, the Port Health Officer in charge at JKIA.
In his remarks, Mr Murkomen lauded the US government for its continued support of the country.
“On behalf of the Government of Kenya, I just want to thank the US Government for this donation,” he said.
US Head of Diplomacy in Kenya Eric Watnik, in his remarks said that the arrival of the vaccines brings the total doses donated to Kenya by the US to over 10 million.
He added that the achievement that the government of Kenya has made over the last six months is significant, including nearly 13.8 million doses administered.
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“Today, over 27 percent of Kenyans are fully vaccinated. We have seen incredible achievement in progress in our response to Covid-19 around the world and here in Kenya but our work is not yet done. Together we will build a world that is safer and more secure from the threat of Covid-19, and other infectious diseases.”
The vaccines will be distributed in the counties of Mombasa, Nairobi, Kakamega, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret and the remainder will be stored at the central stores in Kitengela.
At the same time, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe announced that over 16.6 million vaccines had been administered across the country as of February 27.
Of these, he said 7.8 milion are partially vaccinated while those fully vaccinated are 7.6 million.
