Ministry targets 5 million Covid vaccinations by Mashujaa Day

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has continued to call upon Kenyans to turn up in large numbers for vaccination against Covid-19.

The CS said that the government is keen on administering five million coronavirus vaccines to the Kenyans before October 20 (Mashujaa Day), adding that those who have been vaccinated are heroes.

“We can only do so if the positivity rate comes down and if we have more vaccinations. We are keen on reaching five million doses before Mashujaa Day. When you have been vaccinated, you are a shujaa,” Kagwe said.

The CS made his remarks on Thursday in Nairobi during the launch of a campaign seeking to encourage stakeholders in the public transport sector to get vaccinated against the virus.

The campaign comes amid concern over the low uptake of vaccines in parts of the country.

He was accompanied by Transport CS James Macharia and a section of leaders from the transport industry.

Kagwe added that all sectors must pull together towards ensuring the health ministry realises its target of achieving herd immunity among the population that will, in turn, allow for the full reopening of the economy.

He said that the government remains committed to having all those eligible get vaccinated.

“As far as we are concerned, you are part of our frontline officers as well. Without you, we are much weaker, our own nurses cannot get to work.”

As of October 5, 2021, a total of 3,990,500 vaccines had been administered across the country. Of these, 3,022,947 were partially vaccinated while those fully vaccinated stood at 967,553.

The uptake of the second dose among those who received their first dose was at 32.0 per cent.

The proportion of adults fully vaccinated was 3.6 per cent.

The government said that it is working towards vaccinating a targeted population of 27,246,033.