Blow to investors as Gov’t bans private vaccine importation
The Government has dealt a blow to private hospitals importing Covid-19 vaccines after banning the importation and cancelling the permits.
Health Ministry Cabinet Secretary(CS) Mutahi Kagwe on Friday, April 2, said private importation of the Covid-19 vaccine puts Kenya at a risk of counterfeit vaccines.
"To ensure transparency and accountability in the vaccination exercise, and to protect the integrity of the country, the Government is effective today closing the window of private sector importation, distribution and administration of vaccines," said CS Kagwe.
Kagwe said the ban will continue until the government is ascertained of transparency and accountability in the private administration of the vaccines.
The CS said the Government has revoked all the licenses for private importation of the vaccine. Some private health facilities in Kenya have started administering the Russian made Sputnik V vaccine.
He assured those who had received their first dose of the Sputnik V that they will get the second one. Deputy President William Ruto is among the Kenyans who opted for the Sputnik V instead of the State offered and free AstraZeneca. Sputnik V costs between Sh8,000 and Sh11,000.
CS Kagwe encouraged all the Kenyans targeted in the first phase of vaccination to turn out and asked the rest population to wait for their turn.
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The Ministry also noted improvement in Covid-19 containment after President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the second lockdown a week ago.
CS Kagwe hinted at easing the containment measures should the infections reduce significantly.
On Friday, Kenya recorded 1,851 more covid-19 cases, making it 136, 893 the total cases in the country.
Total recoveries stood at 93, 430 after 363 patients were announced to have recovered.
