The Ministry of Health has launched an accelerated COVID-19 vaccination campaign following re-emergence of COVID-19 cases in the country. Speaking at Kibera Level three Hospital during the launch by the Ministry of Health and Nairobi Metropolitan Services, Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache noted that the country experiencing a rise in positivity rate from an average of 0.6 per cent per day to 3.6 per cent, with a weekly average of 3.3 per cent.
“This sharp rise in numbers of new infections mean that we must once again take urgent steps to prevent the slide into a crisis like the one we experienced in 2020 and 2021 when we lost many lives and resources.” The PS said.
She urged all National Government Agencies, County Governments, Faith Based Organizations, and the Private Sector to ramp-up COVID-19 vaccination efforts across the country during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign scale-up, in a bid to ensure that all Kenyans are protected.
“Our target as a Ministry is to vaccinate 100% of the adult population and 50% of the teenage population aged between 15-17 years by the end of the year. Currently 8.7 million Kenyans are fully vaccinated translating to 31% of the adult population.” She said.
She informed that the Ministry also targets to reach the 800,000 youth who completed their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Examination in April 2022 she appealed to parents and guardians to encourage the young adults to be vaccinated before they join universities and colleges.
The PS urged Kenyans to continue adhering to the public health and social measures as a personal responsibility, she also recommended wearing of face masks in confined spaces. “ I also make an appeal to the political class in this campaign period in the lead up to the general elections, to urge their supporters to get vaccinated against COVID-19.” She said.
Source: Ministry of Health