Government Releases Final Covid-19 Vaccination Plan

The Cabinet has ratified the final plan for the coronavirus vaccine rollout, expected to start within the first week of March. 

During the meeting at the State House, the Cabinet identified the key groups lined up for the vaccines. 

The first group to be vaccinated will include health care workers and frontline workers, among them security personnel and teachers, vulnerable persons, and those working in the hospitality industry.

During the session, the Cabinet rolled out a plan on ensuring that there is heightened security within borders to ensure no further importation of the virus. 

“The Cabinet noted that the first batch of COVID vaccine would arrive in Kenya the first week of March 2021. In that regard, the Cabinet ratified the distribution framework for the vaccines with first priority given to health care workers, front line workers including those in security and teachers, vulnerable persons and groups and the hospitality sector,” a statement from the Cabinet Office read.

Over the weekend, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Mercy Mwangangi noted that the vaccine would be available in public health facilities free of charge. 

Mwangangi said the vaccine would be administered voluntarily with plans to intensify public sensitization.

The government intends to vaccinate 16 million people by the end of the year with vaccines from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson and Johnson.

More than 1 million health care workers and essential providers will be among the first people to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The second phase of the vaccination will begin from June 2022 where 9.7 million people will be vaccinated.