This archive report was first published on 24 August 2021.
On August 23, 2021, the first batch of 880,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine arrived in Kenya, marking the beginning of a two-shipment deal totaling 1.76 million jabs.
The doses were donated by the United States Government through the COVAX facility and transported by UNICEF.
This is the third type of COVID-19 vaccine to be administered in Kenya, following the approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine and the ban on private companies shipping and administering the Sputnik V shots from Russia.
China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine is also expected to be available soon, after the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) approved its use in the country.
Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are also expected to arrive in the country later this year.
According to Dr. Willis Akhwale, chairperson of the task force on vaccine deployment, all approved vaccines are equally effective in preventing severe disease and death.
"All these vaccines are the same. When it comes to their efficacy and you look at how they prevent severe disease and death, they are all the same," Dr. Akhwale said.
He added that when individuals book to receive a vaccine, they will be given the vaccine available at the facility, and will not have the option to choose.
