The Ministry of Health has decided that the booster vaccines administered so far, which number just over 500,000 throughout the country, will be administered after 12 weeks and not after 8 as first announced, with dates already set and transmitted to citizens and residents via text message. The decision of the Vaccine Advisory Task Force comes after India confirmed a ban on the export of vaccines produced under license by AstraZeneca due to the emergence of the third wave in the Asian country.
"Kenyans should soon receive a new text message from the Chanjo platform with revised dates on when they should go for their second dose," explained a ministry official. "According to the vaccine manufacturers, the second dose can be taken anywhere between 8-12 weeks.
Indeed, to be fair, the booster shot after 12 weeks guarantees even closer to 100 per cent coverage, according to the World Health Organisation.
Meanwhile, the Gavi Foundation, through its Covax programme, which provides vaccines at subsidised prices to third world countries such as Kenya, has yet to inform the government of the dates for delivery of the second batch of AstraZeneca vaccines and the quantity.
Last March, the chairman of the Vaccine Task Force, Willis Akhwale had told the Daily Nation newspaper that the country had been promised 2.5 million doses.
Yesterday, the task force official interviewed by the same newspaper revealed that Kenya is negotiating with India in a bid to secure a second dose of the vaccine.
"We are exploring all avenues and, as you may know, there is a global shortage of vaccines. However, we are confident that they will come soon," he said.