High demand may lead Kenya to order Indian and Chines COVID-19 vaccines
The increasing demand of people lining up to get the Covid-19 vaccine has sent jitters among relevant stakeholders as the vaccine is reportedly on the verge of being depleted. The first consignment of close to 1.12 million doses of the vaccine is almost over with Uasin Gishu county being among those that have completed their allocation.
Protus Murunga 
High demand may lead Kenya to order Indian and Chines COVID-19 vaccines
The increasing demand of people lining up to get the Covid-19 vaccine has sent jitters among relevant stakeholders as the vaccine is reportedly on the verge of being depleted. The first consignment of close to 1.12 million doses of the vaccine is almost over with Uasin Gishu county being among those that have completed their allocation.
Nakuru is following closely with the overwhelming numbers almost depleting the allocated 30,000 doses. This means the target group that is scheduled to receive the vaccine may miss out if more is not ordered on time.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PBP) through the Director, Product Evaluation and Registration Dr. Ronald Inyangala has noted that conversations have been initiated for more vaccines from China and India.
The Indian vaccine Covaxin from Bharat Biotech through Simba Pharmaceuticals Ltd may be available by end of April while the Chinese, Sinopharm China through Tembe-Centre Ltd may not available for up to three months. This comes on the heels of the fact that the two vaccines have not been tested and approved by the World Health Organization.
Upon approval by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PBP) in Kenya, the vaccines will be added to the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Sputnik V already being administered in Kenya.
Another vaccine from Johnson & Johnson is also being considered as conversations have started before any authorization has been done. The Johnson & Johnson has been reported to be stored within appropriate conditions.
The overall totality of Kenyans who have already gotten the jab includes 56% men and 44% women. This comes as Turkana County records the lowest vaccine administration with a paltry 335 out of 9,000 doses being administered.
The director of medical services in Turkana County Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel said that they are still carrying out sensitization campaigns on the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccine. For effectiveness, the campaign is aimed at reaching all target populations and build herd immunity. This comes in the wake of infections in the county standing at 1,237 and 22 deaths.
In West Pokot County, County Health director Samuel Lopar noted that within the sub-counties, training of vaccinators started long before the vaccination was rolled out. By 31 March 1000 people had been vaccinated.
In Machakos County, a 9,000-dose consignment was received and by Wednesday, 8,400 had been administered with the elderly being the priority.
The Ministry of Health has it that within the Covax vaccine distribution plan, the first phase of 495,000 doses will be distributed to nine depots regionally, Level VI hospitals as well as Military Level IV hospitals.
