Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti has tried to debunk rumours the Covid-19 vaccines cause men to become impotent and women unable to bear children.
Awiti on Tuesday urged everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible and said all health facilities were well-stocked with vaccines.
Neither the national government nor county governments have reported any cases of impotence or sterility after getting vaccinated, he said.
All vaccines used in Kenya have been approved by the World Health Organization. Kenya uses AstraZeneca, Modena and Johnson & Johnson.
Most county officials have been vaccinated and Awiti was among the first.
“Don’t be cheated that vaccination against Covid-19 is interfering with your reproductive health. Many of my officers and I have received the jab and they perform their duties as usual since no side effect has been reported,” Awiti said.
He spoke during a prayer service before the burial of 10 people who died in a Lake Victoria boat accident on September 23.
The jab will reduce the disease burden in Homa Bay, Awiti said.
He was joined by Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata, county secretary Isaiah Ogwe, health executive Richard Muga and finance executive Nicholas K’Oriko.
County commissioner Moses Lilan was also present.
“Let our people take the ongoing vaccination with a lot of seriousness because we’re really disadvantaged as a county in matters of health. We’re grappling with high HIV prevalence and tropical diseases such as malaria,” Awiti said.
Orata expressed concerns over the vaccination apathy.
The county has more than 1.1 million people.
The deputy governor said they have decentralised vaccination to subcounty health facilities and 14 other centres countywide.
He said vaccination will prevent the disease or serious cases requiring hospitalisation.
Orata said the jab gives people the confidence to undertake business and other economic activities.
“Some vaccines are soon expiring at health facilities just because people don’t want to turn up for vaccination. We can’t strive for better life if we don’t want to get vaccinated against Covid-19," Orata said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
