Mass vaccination leaves over 4,000 in Embakasi inoculated
Slightly over 4,000 residents drawn from the four sub counties in Embakasi, Nairobi County were at the weekend vaccinated against Covid-19.
This brings the total number of Kenyans who have received their first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine since the programme kicked off on March 5 to 1.84 million people.
Nairobi is leading with 280,000 city residents representing 7.7 percent having been fully vaccinated.
Speaking at the weekend, Nairobi Metropolitan Services Health director Dr Ouma Oluga, said when the exercise kicked off, 1, 952 people were vaccinated in six venues.
“We vaccinated 1, 952 people yesterday. Today we hope to also do about 2,000,” he told People Daily yesterday as the country recorded 32 deaths from the disease when 800 people tested positive for Covid-19 from 6, 530 samples tested in 24 hours.
Mobilise residents
Oluga said the NMS went out to mobilise the residents of the City’s Embakasi area using public address systems in the estates.
But despite the ongoing mobilization to have more people vaccinated, a section of Kenyans still have strong misconceptions towards the vaccine.
“Even as I was queuing for the jab, I could hear people, ironically, who were also lining up to be vaccinated whispering and casting doubts on the vaccine,” a person only identified as Juma said.
An officer at NMS who wished not to be identified, as he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the entity said the programme, no longer targets frontline workers only.
“We are now targeting all Kenyans above the age of 18 who don’t have any contra-indications such as pregnancy and certain allergies for vaccination,” he added as the positivity rate remained at an average of 12 percent.
His sentiments came on the day the total fatalities from the disease reached 4, 149 yesterday and Nairobi remained the country’s Coronavirus hotspot with 286 new infections from the 800 followed by Mombasa (102) and Kiambu at 101 positive cases.
The total confirmed positive cases hit 211, 828 from a cumulative 2.1 million tests so far conducted according to Health Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe.
