Counties that host nomadic pastoralists will be given priority in the distribution of the Covid-19 Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
This is one of the actions the government is taking to ensure the 10 million December target is attained.
Kenya is home to many nomadic pastoralists—especially in the arid and semi-arid lands in the northern part of the county in areas such as Isiolo and Marsabit. The targetted communities include Turkana, Pokot, Samburu, Endorois, Tugen, Sabaot, Somali and Borana.
The single-shot vaccine will be the best option for the population who are always on the move as it will help reduce the difficulty of getting them to return for the second dose as has been the case with Astrazeneca.
Last week, the government admitted that about 100,000 people who received their first dose of AZ vaccine have yet to return for their second dose more than two months since the exercise started.
For nomadic pastoralists, seasonal movement is part of their cultural tradition as herders of cattle, camels, and smaller livestock and a defining feature of their lifestyle.
“Johnson and Johnson vaccine is a single-shot vaccine that is easily stored at two to eight degrees centigrade during administration and can be frozen at minus 20 degrees to ensure months of shelf life,” Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said.
“This vaccine will, therefore, require low logistics and operational cost. It is expected to be of great utility in reaching mobile populations and primary healthcare facilities, where uptake of vaccines continues to be low.”
Kenya on Friday received the first consignment of 141,600 doses of Johnson and Johnson, with another delivery of 252,000 more doses expected to arrive this week.
The consignment is the first of the 13.3 million doses directly procured by the government through the Africa Vaccines Acquisition Trust (AVAT).
AVAT was formed in 2020 to ensure at least 60 per cent of the population of the African continent is vaccinated against the disease. It is chaired by South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa.
