The Health Ministry has called on counties hoarding Covid-19 vaccines to release them and ensure all eligible Kenyans get vaccinated as outlined in the Phase I schedule.
The ministry has noted that some counties are holding on to some vaccine stocks over fear that there might be a lack of second doses.
The ministry confirmed that another 2.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are expected into the country in May, adding that the delay by the Serum Institute in India was for one month to help cater for their local demand.
As at Thursday, 616,166 people had received the jab with data showing that men account for 56 per cent of the total people who have so far been inoculated.
“We had expected that consignment would come a little bit earlier this month but because of the action taken by the Indian government that has been put a delay,” Health CAS Rashid Aman said.
The second consignment is part of the vaccines expected to be received by Kenya under the Covax facility Mechanism.
"The delay was for about one month and they have assured that we will get them in May. Counties and facilities should not hold onto a second dose because the first dose gives you up to 76 per cent protection and the second dose can be administered up to 12 weeks so by the end of May we will have gotten these vaccines,” Vaccines deployment task force chairman Willis Akhwale said.
Nairobi has continued to lead with the number of those vaccinated so far at 198,808 followed by Nakuru with 34,682, Uasin Gishu with 31,503, Kiambu with 30,176 and Nyeri with 21,845 people so far vaccinated.
