• The drive will prioritise teachers aged 50 and above.
• TSC has not revealed how many teachers fall in that age bracket.
The Teachers Service Commission on Thursday launched the Covid-19 vaccination of tutors with those manning KCPE and KCSE exams targeted.
The Teachers Service Commission has said 44 teachers have so far succumbed to Covid-19 related complications since the outbreak of the virus in March last year.
TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia made the revelation on Thursday during the launch of the vaccination drive for teachers.
The drive will prioritise teachers aged 50 and above.
TSC has not revealed how many teachers fall in that age bracket.
Macharia said both teachers in private and public schools will be considered for vaccination.
Macharia termed the vaccine a major breakthrough to the education sector.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to Friday lay down a revised plan to combat the coronavirus in the wake of a warning by health experts of a third Covid-19 wave.
The Health Ministry has reported a surge in new virus infections, with ICU beds in Nairobi full by Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday 713 new cases were reported from a sample size of 5,230. This represents a positivity rate of 13.6 per cent — the highest since January.
ICU cases soared, with 89 patients admitted on Wednesday. Another 28 patients were separately on supplemental oxygen. Hospital admissions were 563 with another 1,588 under the home-based care .
Counties have been advised to ensure their 300 Covid-19 beds are available.
“Even as we increase the sample size to a minimum of 7,000 having received the necessary reagents the sheer number itself tells you the whole story,” Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said on Wednesday.
“I, therefore, want to support and agree with CoG that now the time has come to start looking back at some of the measures that we have taken whether to increase and to stop and make some mandatory requirements of our population.”
The Council of Governors said political rallies were fueling the virus in the country. The governors urged the President to ban all rallies for 30 days.
“I wish to bring to your attention that we are currently dealing with the third wave of the virus which is severe. In this regard, the CoG together with the Ministry of Health will relook at the existing protocols with a view to containing the current wave,” CoG chair Martin Wambora said.