Rush to get vaccinated as hotels, malls put in place compliance mechanisms

You have just eight days left to get vaccinated against Covid-19 or risk missing out on public services.

The Health ministry set December 21 as the deadline when people either leaving or entering the country will be required to be fully vaccinated.

The directive was issued by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe more than two weeks ago.

The ministry announced that Kenyans will be required to provide proof of full vaccination when seeking transport services including domestic flights, the SGR and when boarding matatus and buses.

Similarly, drivers, conductors, boda boda riders, pilots and cabin crew will be required to be fully vaccinated and carry proof of vaccination at all times.

The measures will also require all businesses, including small and medium enterprises with more than 50 people a day, to put up signage requiring proof of vaccination before entry into the premises.

Sarova Hotels and Resorts Kenya has announced plans to deny unvaccinated guests services at the lapse of the deadline.

“Please note that it is mandatory for guests to show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination prior to use of our facilities,” the management said in a statement on Thursday.

The requirement applies to all guests aged 18 years and above.

Yaya Centre management has also announced that proof of vaccination will be required before anyone is allowed to gain entry to the establishment.

“Proof of vaccination will be verified at the entrance of the mall; it could be soft or copy of the certificate. Additional guards will be added to facilitate the above exercise," Yaya Centre general manager Edna Fernades said in a statement.

“This will apply to all tenants, customers, suppliers and contractors who will be accessing the shopping mall,” she added.

The ministry has advised against a last-minute rush, saying there are enough doses in the country.

To date, Kenya has received 23.2 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccines after 1.1 million doses of single shot Johnson and Johnson and one million doses of Pfizer arrived in the country at the end of last week.

Vaccines deployment taskforce chairman Willis Akhwale said the measures are aimed at ensuring that the gains made against Covid-19 are sustained.

 “We have now seen that some establishments, and some of our leading hotels, have already put in place measures to ensure that they verify vaccination certificates,” Akhwale said.

“We want to encourage other hospitality establishments to put in such measures so that come December 21 they will be able to verify each and every person who gets into their premises that they are fully vaccinated.” 

Edited by A.N