• County director of health George Karoki said Kirinyaga received 12,040 doses of Moderna and an extra 8,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Karoki said they intend to reach 70 per cent of the county population in a bid to reduce the infection rate of the viral disease.
Image: IMAGE: WANGECHI WANG'ONDU
Thousands of residents turned up as Kirinyaga county government on Monday rolled out administration of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.
The county has 22 designated vaccination sites.
County director of health George Karoki said Kirinyaga received 12,040 doses of Moderna and an extra 8,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.
Karoki said they intend to reach 70 per cent of the county population to reduce the infection rate of the viral disease.
"We are targeting to vaccine around 200 people daily per centre, so we urge residents to corporate and show up to the recommended health facilities for the uptake of the vaccine," he said.
The director said each station will administer a specific type of the vaccine so as to maintain the consistency of inoculating one type of dose.
"In bid to avert confusion of mixing the doses, each centre will have one type so that if a patient receives the AstraZeneca type, she/he will receive the second dose in the same facility after 12 weeks. If it's the Moderna type,the patient will receive the second vaccine in the same station after 28 days."
Karoki also called on the residents to be caution and avoid receiving jabs from unknown sources.
He instead urged them to only visit the recommended health centres across the county to receive the jab.
"There are guidelines to be observed while administering the jab. The government has a list of the facilities it entrusts to carry out the task and that should strictly be adhered to. I therefore want to advice Kirinyaga residents to only get these services from the public facilities which have been enlisted."
Karoki further urged residents to be patient saying they plan to roll out the vaccination in all public health facilities across the county to achieve a 100 per cent Covid-19 vaccination.
On the Covid tests reagents, Karoki said county hospitals were experiencing a shortage but called on residents to be patient saying they have already placed an order with the relevant agency.
A spot check by the Star newspaper in the Kerugoya referral hospital revealed an impressive turn out of residents mostly those coming for the first dose.
Grace Wangui, a resident, said she is happy to receive the dose as it will protect both herself and her loved ones from severe effects of the disease.
John Wanjohi, another resident, lauded the programme and called on those who are yet to receive the vaccine to do so.
"I have received my first jab and I'm happy to have done it. The activity is being done in an organised manner and all the health officers are prepared and willing to help. I look forward to receiving the second dose as this will protect me and those I love."
Esther Muriithi, another resident, urged residents to heed to the government's call of getting vaccinated.
"The vaccine is the only solution to help lower mortality from this deadly disease. Once we all get vaccinated, we will resume normalcy in the shortest time possible," she said.
-Edited by SKanyara