This archive report was first published on 23 August 2021.
Kenya has received a significant boost to its nationwide vaccination programme with the arrival of 880,000 doses of Moderna vaccine from the U.S.
The delivery, which arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday, follows President Joe Biden's announcement earlier this year that Washington DC would share 80 million doses from America's own stock.
According to Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache, this batch is part of 1.7 million doses that the U.S. promised to donate to Kenya and is being delivered via the Gavi-Covax facility.
Speaking while receiving the donation, Ms Mochache said the arrival of the Moderna vaccine marks another important milestone in the fight against Covid-19.
She noted that this is the second type of vaccine to be deployed in the country after AstraZeneca.
Ms Mochache revealed that so far, 1.6 million people in Kenya have received their first dose, with 780,000 being fully vaccinated.
She added that 70,000 people were vaccinated on Friday, a record in a single day.
"We remain focused in protecting those who are at risk of getting affected by Covid-19," Ms Mochache said.
The PS also revealed that Covid-19 case fatality has reduced to 2 per cent from 2.1 per cent.
"We hope to reduce this further by maintaining the vaccination effort," she said.
Ms Mochache urged county governments to support efforts by the national government by mobilising communities at the grassroots levels to take the vaccines.
"No vaccine is superior to the other; we shall not be emphasising on the brand names. Don't wait for a particular brand of vaccine, the best vaccine is the one that is available," said the Health PS.
The Moderna vaccine doses received on Monday are the first batch of the donation from the U.S. via the Covax facility. The next consignment will arrive in September.
Kenya has so far received 3,610,100 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
According to the Health ministry, at least 754,542 people had received their second doses by Tuesday last week.
A total of 2,374,197 vaccine doses have been administered, with 1,595,335 people getting the first dose.
"We are mounting a comprehensive response on Covid-19, vaccines and all the issues related [to it]," the U.S. said in an official briefing.
