Boost for Kenya’s Covid-19 war as Denmark donates 358,000 doses
The pace of administration of the second Covid-19 shot in Kenya is set to intensify after 358,000 AstraZeneca doses were delivered in Nairobi from Denmark.
The consignment from the Danish government is set for distribution across the counties to replenish stocks that dried up early this month.
Slightly over a week ago, the ministry of health urged doctors, other health workers and those Kenyans due for the second dose to be patient as vaccination drive stagnated owing to supply hitches.
“As was the case with the first dose, doctors and other health workers will be given priority,” noted the ministry.
Previosuly, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe indicated that the governments working with the UN to secure 30 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country and also to supplement AstraZeneca vaccine due to its low rate of supply.
Read also: The World Bank, AU strike deal to speed up vaccine purchase and deployment
Currently, data from the Ministry of Health indicate that about 994,000 people have been vaccinated while over 186, 000 people have received their second covishield.
Further, the country’s Covid-19 caseload has reached 179,293 after 218 new cases were recorded on Monday June 21, marking an 8.5 per cent positivity rate.
According to the ministry, five new deaths were reported; one in the last 24 hours and four on diverse dates between April and June. This now brings the total fatalities to 3,461.
A total of 343 patients had recovered from the disease bringing the total number of recoveries to 119,589.
Currently, 1,074 patients are admitted to various health facilities across the country, with 5,638 patients under home-based isolation and care.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has issued yet another warning, citing an increase in the delta variant after genomics sequencing conducted on the latest positive cases from the 13 hot spot counties.
“We have our labs there particularly KEMRI which is picking samples so that we can establish the number of delta variant cases that may be there and what is of concern and of importance to those who resides in the 13 counties is that we have picked the delta variant, and we need to adhere to the measures because we want to stop community transmission,” Health CAS, Dr Mercy Mwangagi said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi, on behalf of the National Emergency Response Committee, said they were monitoring the situation and when the infection rate lowered the restrictions, which included a ban on in-person worship would be reviewed.
“We are keen on worship, and we want to re-look at these measures and see how best we can go forward based on the advice of the Ministry of Health and how fast we can resume worship in the 13 counties even as we follow the advice given,” CS Matiangi said.
