Kenya takes a strong stand in Covid-19 vaccinations to minimize the spread of the disease

Kenya identified its first case of Covid-19 on 12th March 2020. It has since then undertaken a series of measures to contain the spread and management of the disease in the country. In a population of approximately 54 million there were 323, 140 confirmed cases and 5,644 COVID-deaths as of 10^th March 2022. The confirmed cases are cases identified with laboratory confirmation (by the use of PCR) of COVID-19 infection, irrespective of clinical signs and symptoms.

Vaccination of the adult population against Covid-19 started in March 2021 and the teenage population in November 2021. Global reports of waning immunity and protection from Covid-19 encouraged Kenya to administer 3rd doses as booster shots early on and aims to administer 4.2 million booster shots by June 2022 to all eligible adults.

Kenya relies on five COVID-19 vaccines that are manufactured by AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Sinopharm. They are primarily delivered through the COVAX Facility, which has delivered over 20 million vaccine doses to the country over the past 11 months.

Kenya was able to surpass its target of vaccinating 10 out of 27 million people by the end of December 2021 by introducing several new measures to drive vaccine uptake. They include increasing the number of vaccination posts from an initial 200 to 3,000, as well as creating outreach campaigns in densely populated areas countrywide. It has further made plans to fully vaccinate 19 million adults (70% of the adult population) by end of June 2022 and the entire adult population of 27 million people by the end of the year with 3 doses. Approximately 17 million doses have been administered as of 13^th March 2022.

The mandatory wearing of face masks in open public spaces was lifted on 11^th March 2022 as  the positivity rate is around 1% and below in some regions since 10th February 2022.

By Ahmed Adam

Head Research Coordinator
County Government of Mombasa