The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has approved the use of Pfizer vaccines for people aged between 15 and 18 years-old.
In the announcement made on Saturday, the Vaccines Deployment Taskforce chairperson Willis Akhwale said PPB is still analysing data on the other vaccines.
"There's still evaluation of Moderna and all other vaccines are still presenting their data to show safety and effectiveness in use in the younger population," Akhwale said.
He added that lowering of the vaccine age bracket is one of the measures the government is taking to ensure as many Kenyans as possible get vaccinated.
Akhwale said this will only happen in areas where Pfizer vaccine is available.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Sunday noted that the overall goal of achieving herd immunity in Kenya is to vaccinate at least 30 million Kenyans before the end of next year.
“This means that beyond our adult population, we must also vaccinate the younger people who in most cases, though not bearing the burden of the disease, are the main carriers and therefore spreaders of the virus,” he said. As such it is important for them to get vaccinated to reduce their chances of transmitting the virus.”
“We are expecting 4 million doses of this vaccine which will be administered to the teenagers.”
The CS added that Kenya has so far received 10.7 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines and is expecting and additional eight million doses.
Edited by B. Oruta
