- The ministry at the beginning of the vaccination drive attributed the low uptake mostly due to vaccine hesitancy.
- However, some counties are doing well with data showing they have fully vaccinated at least 20,000 people.
Image: REUTERS
Counties in the Northern region are still lagging behind in the Covid-19 vaccination, with some yet to have at least 1,000 people of the target population fully vaccinated.
For instance, just 385 residents of Tana River county had received the two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by Saturday against the target population of 151,051 people aged 18 years and above.
A report from the Health ministry shows Lamu had vaccinated 418 people with the two doses against the target population of 83,433, while the people fully inoculated in Marsabit were 523 against the target population of 219,190 people.
Other counties that are yet to reach at least 2,000 people with the two doses include Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, West Pokot and Isiolo with 1,130, 1,134, 1,294, 1,350 and 1,525 people fully vaccinated respectively.
“Fifty-five per cent of those vaccinated with the second dose were 55 per cent males and 45 per cent female. The proportion of healthcare workers who were fully vaccinated as of July 22 were highest at 63.7 per cent,” the report states.
The ministry at the beginning of the vaccination drive attributed the low uptake mostly due to vaccine hesitancy and internet challenges in the affected counties with plans put in place to use religious, political and business leaders to help address vaccine hesitancy in the affected counties.
However, some counties are doing well, with data showing they have fully vaccinated at least 20,000 people.
Nairobi is leading with 215,000 people reached with two doses against the target population of 3.05 million people aged 18 years and above, Nakuru 40,852, Kiambu 35,466, Uasin Gishu 27,437, Nyeri 27,437 and Mombasa 20,379.
The data shows counties that have fully vaccinated at least 10,000 people include Laikipia with 10,998, Nyandarua 11,686, Embu 11,022, Kisumu 16,351, Murang’a 14, 494, Kajiado 12,905, Kakamega 15,310, Meru 13,547 and Machakos 10,024.
Vihiga has given two doses to 8,319 people, Kirinyaga 8,077, Taita Taveta 4,096, Elgeyo Marakwet 4,446, Tharaka Nithi 4,526, Trans Nzoia 9,298, Nandi 7,431, Nyamira 5,287, Baringo 4,842, Kericho 7,373, Samburu 2,002, Kitui 7,944, Homa Bay 7,081, Busia 5,345, Bungoma 8,095 and Kisii 6,866.
Other counties are Migori 5,525, Siaya 5,477, Bomet 3,881, Makueni 4,516, Narok 4,223, Kilifi 4,464 and Kwale 2,239.
According to the report, intersex/transgender people constituted 635 in the first dose and 341 in the second dose, while 1,858 doses of Sputnik V vaccine were administered.
“Port Health Services at all points of entry and other stakeholders’ measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of travellers and traders in line with Ministry of Health guidelines on social distancing, hand washing, sanitising, and enhanced temperature screening, disinfection of facilities, and sensitisation of staff,” it states.
“Mandatory screening of cargo vessel crew is ongoing at all points of entry to minimise the risk of importation of additional cases from other affected countries.”
The report points out that shortage of sampling kits in several counties has affected testing of suspected cases, contacts, and thus limiting overall access to testing while industrial action by health workers in several counties due to delayed salaries also hampers the fight against Covid-19 in the country.
From the report, Kenya has received 1,733,100 vaccines so far since March, inclusive of 100,000 donation from India, 72,000 from South Sudan, 358,700 from Denmark and 182,400 from Sweden.
All the doses have been distributed to the nine regional depots.
-Edited by SKanyara