•In a statement to media houses, Kagwe said his sentiments were taken out of context as he is actually pro-vaccination.
•"This clip was specifically directed towards the reports of Pfizer developing a vaccine that is 95 per cent effective. This response is driven by the reaction of top medics and if well guided, perhaps we should share in it," he said.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has defended his comment on the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, saying Kenya will not spend money on a yet to be scientifically proven vaccine.
The CS was seen in a video that has since gone viral expressing his reservations concerning the Pfizer-developed Covid-19 vaccine.
In a statement to media houses on Wednesday, Kagwe said his sentiments were taken out of context as he is actually pro-vaccination.
"This clip was specifically directed towards the reports of Pfizer developing a vaccine that is 95 per cent effective. This response is driven by the reaction of top medics and if well guided, perhaps we should share in it," he said.
"We will not commit the Kenyan taxpayer's money to preorder vaccine candidates with little or no pre-reviewed evidence supporting their efficacy."
Kagwe says Kenya should instead wait for globally and scientifically acceptable vaccines.
He said the Ministry of Health is still monitoring several other vaccine candidates which are still under advanced clinical trial stages.
"For the avoidance of doubt, my ministry considers vaccination and or immunization to be our core part of efforts for preventing diseases for which vaccines are available," Kagwe noted.
Kagwe was put on the spot for dimming lights on the excitement about the vaccine.
"Yes we are hearing that there is a vaccine. I have got my many doubts.. we are talking about a vaccine that stops someone from getting the virus," he said on Wednesday when he appeared before the Senate Health Committee.
"I would like to know how they knew that I was going to get the virus so that they give me the vaccine. When you tell me that you stopped me from getting the virus how will you know that you stopped me?"
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine's manufacturer is among more than 25 drug makers who have expressed interest to supply developing countries with the vaccine under the Sh300-per-dose plan led by the World Health Organization.