Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has urged Kenyans not to pay for Covid-19 vaccines, following reports of administration of fake Johnson & Johnson doses.
In a statement on Thursday, Kagwe clarified that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has not yet been deployed in Kenya.
A media house had earlier reported the arrest of two suspects who were caught administering fake Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Nairobi.
The duo were allegedly impersonating medical doctors.
Wallace Mugendi and Kenneth Mukundi were arrested at the Crane Hospital along Lumumba Drive in Roysambu.
Responding to the news, Kagwe noted that the first batch of 141,600 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be deployed to different health centers nationwide from today, Thursday September 9.
"The Ministry of Health’s key priority is to ensure that the public is always well informed and advised. As the government of Kenya ventures into the multiple vaccine deployment, we request the public to remain vigilant," Kagwe said.
"Your wellbeing is of key importance to the nation. Should you encounter any anomalies, kindly urgently report to the nearest authorities."
The Ministry of Health has also insisted that Kenyans should not get lured into paying for a Covid-19 vaccine.
"All vaccines provided by the Government of Kenya are free of charge. There is no cost at all to the available multiple vaccines," Kagwe said.
"In a continued effort to ensure 10 million Kenyans are vaccinated by December, 2021, the Government of Kenya is deploying multiple vaccines at its own cost and to be issued to all eligible adults at no cost."
