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Uhuru receives first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine

President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday led top government officials in being vaccinated against Covid-19 as the country recorded the highest number of cases to date.

Over 2,000 people tested positive for the coronavirus raising the number of confirmed cases to 128,178.

The new cases were from 11,360 samples which are the most tested in 24 hours.

The testing positivity rate stood at 17.7 per cent.

Of the five counties which have been put on partial lockdown, Nairobi had the most cases at 1,071 followed by Nakuru (189), Kiambu (105) and Machakos with 84. Kajiado had 26 cases.

The number of fatalities rose to 2,098 after six more deaths were reported. As of yesterday, there were 124 patients in the intensive care units.

Rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is supplied through a World Health Organisation COVAX Facility programme, is one of the measures the government is using to reduce the high number of patients in need of critical care.

Although the vaccine arrived in the country three weeks ago, it wasn’t until yesterday that President Kenyatta received the first of two jabs.

Uhuru’s decision comes a day after the Covid-19 task force revised the priority list for those to receive the vaccine. The list was revised on Thursday by Willis Akhwale, the chair of Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment Taskforce and now includes persons aged 58 and above in the ongoing first phase of the vaccination.

Dr Akhwale called on leaders to be vaccinated in order to lead by example.

“The Ministry of Health calls upon all political, religious and community leaders to take the vaccine so as to boost confidence in the overall vaccination process among vaccination target groups.”

Joining the president in being vaccinated was First Lady Margaret Kenyatta. The jab was administered at State House after the president addressed the country on the pandemic and revised containment measures.

 

Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu takes Covid-19 Vaccine at State House, Nairobi. [State House]

Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Court of Appeal Judge William Ouko, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo, Narok Governor Samuel Ole Tunai and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi were vaccinated.

Members of the Interfaith Council led by Archbishop Anthony Muheria, and United Nations Director General Zainab Hawa Bangura were also vaccinated.

Those scheduled to be vaccinated during the first phase include military, police and prison officers, teachers and healthcare workers.

Were Onyino, the president of Kenya Medical Association blamed healthcare workers’ reluctance to be vaccinated on lack of sensitisation before the vaccines arrived in the country.

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