This archive report was first published on 8 July 2021.
On July 8, 2021, Kenya received a significant boost in its fight against COVID-19 with the arrival of 182,400 doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The vaccines were donated by the French government to the COVAX facility and transported by UNICEF. The consignment was received by Dr. Willis Akhwale, Chairman of the Covid Vaccine Deployment Taskforce, who expressed gratitude to the French government for the generous donation.
Dr. Akhwale stated, "This will ensure our health workers, teachers, and other essential workers are protected, and that our health centres countrywide can continue providing vital care to people affected by COVID-19."
The French government's donation is part of a larger effort to provide vaccine equity, with President Macron pledging to give 60 million doses of vaccine to countries in need around the world, including Kenya, before the end of 2021. As of June, 2.6 million doses had already been distributed.
UNICEF Representative to Kenya, Maniza Zaman, emphasized the importance of vaccine equity, saying, "Vaccine equity is essential if we are to ensure that everyone at risk from COVID-19 gets vaccinated, wherever they live."
WHO Representative to Kenya, Dr. Rudi Eggers, welcomed the gesture by the French government and urged the public to sustain public health measures, saying, "Thanks to donations like these, frontline health workers in Kenya who have yet to get their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, have another opportunity and will be protected as they treat COVID-19 patients and provide essential health services."
The roll-out of the national vaccination campaign is being led by the Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and other partners. Kenya is currently prioritizing second doses for health workers, teachers, other essential workers, and people aged over 58.
