As thousands of Kenyans await the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, nearly the third month after taking the first dose, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe says they have no reason to worry even if they don’t receive the second dose.
Those who received the first dose are due for the second dose approximately three months later.
Speaking to CNN on Thursday, CS Kagwe says recipients of the first dose have no reason to panic as they are more stable than those who had not received it.
He says first recipients have 70 per cent protection, according to medical experts, adding that there should be no reason for worry.
“You are better off with a first dose than none at all. We have not heard from anywhere of people dying because they did not get the second dose,” he said.
At the same time, the CS appealed for patience from Kenyans as the Government tries its best to procure the second batch of the vaccine.
He says they are expecting 150,000 doses from the neighbouring country that are unable to administer it to its populace before expiry.
Kagwe said the Kenyan government is also holding discussions with other manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson to see if they can get an alternative solution to the current stalemate.
The availability of the AstraZeneca vaccine became scarce after India reported skyrocketing cases of the Covid-19.
India was forced to stop the importation of the jab so that it can administer its population that is bearing the brunt of the deadly pandemic.
The Government aims at securing one million doses to administer to those who had received the first dose leaving a majority of Kenyans at the risk of the deadly pandemic.
As of today, a total of 948,980 persons have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease countrywide. Of these; 288,146 are aged 58 years and above, Health workers 163,490, teachers 149,018, security officers 80,153 while Others are 268,173.
