Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has assured first phase Covid-19 vaccine recipients that they will receive their second dose of the shot this week.
The assurance comes as the Health ministry has extended the interval between the first and second doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from eight to 12 weeks due to a global shortage of vaccines.
According to Dr. Richard Ayah, a public health specialist and member of the National Task Force on Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment, the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine does not give full protection from the disease, but rather builds up slowly and mainly protects against severe disease.
The second dose is a boost to the first dose, offering a higher level of protection against infection, with recipients likely to get about 90% protection after the second shot.
However, there is no clear-cut on how long the protection will last after receiving the second dose, with studies suggesting that the 12-week interval for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is better.
Dr. Ayah also explained that the waiting period is necessary because the immune system takes time to ramp up, and that the second dose is not a guarantee against infection, but rather a boost to the immune system.
He also addressed concerns about side effects, stating that recipients may experience similar side effects, such as headache, fever, muscle and joint pains, chills, fatigue, and nausea, but that these are usually mild and go away after two to three days.
Regarding the waiting period, Dr. Ayah explained that the postponement was mainly due to the scarcity of doses in the country and globally, but also because studies suggest that the 12-week interval for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is better.
He also addressed concerns about getting the second dose in a different facility, stating that recipients do not need to get the second dose from the same facility, but can go to any facility that has the doses armed with their identification card.
Finally, Dr. Ayah confirmed that recipients will receive a Covid-19 vaccine certificate after receiving the second dose, which will be available online and can also be printed in hard copy.
