This archive report was first published on 18 September 2021.
Published on September 18, 2021, Kenya has received a significant boost in its fight against Covid-19 with the arrival of 795,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The vaccines were donated by the US government, and according to Jean Lokenga, the Unicef Kenya deputy representative, another 1.24 million doses will arrive in the coming weeks.
The Pfizer vaccine is the fourth brand to be available in Kenya, joining AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna. Jean emphasized that all WHO and Government of Kenya-approved vaccines are safe and effective.
Unicef recently procured 12 ultra-low temperature freezers and accessories with funding from the Government of Japan to enable the use of Pfizer vaccines in Kenya. The freezers were installed at the central depot in Kitengela and eight regional depots, and technicians were trained in their maintenance and operation.
The Pfizer vaccine is administered via intra-muscular injection and has a 95% effectiveness rate, according to its manufacturer. However, it requires storage at extremely cold temperatures of minus 70 degrees Celsius.
With the freezers in place, the shelf-life of the vaccines can be guaranteed for six months. Common side effects after injection include headache, joint aches, muscle aches, pain at the injection site, tiredness, chills, fever, and swelling at the injection site.
According to the WHO, the vaccine has been found to be safe and effective in people with various conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease, including hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and chronic infections.
WHO recommends administering two doses of the vaccine with a 21 to 28-day interval, with a protective effect starting to develop 12 days after the first dose.
As of now, 3.3 million vaccines have been administered in Kenya, with the Pfizer vaccine set to play a significant role in the country's vaccination efforts.
