President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged Kenyans to receive their COVID-19 vaccines, amid global concern of the Omicron variant, that is said to be more virulent and infectious.
Speaking during the State of the Nation Address on Tuesday, Kenyatta said Kenya had so far vaccinated 7.1 million people against its goal of vaccinating at least 10 million adults by December.
With Kenya vaccinating not less than 100,000 people a day, President Kenyatta expressed optimism that the goal would be hit by Christmas but appealed to the media to promote social good by urging their audiences to get vaccinated.
“This new variant remains unknown, so, it is better to err on the side of caution, by receiving our vaccinations we will have played our part in securing not only, our lives but also in protection the lives of those around us,” President Kenyatta said.
The Head of State said that with heightened vaccinations, Kenyan will conquer the disease and focus on economic recovery.
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“I promised you that 10 million Kenyans would be vaccinated by end of December, as of Today, we are at we are at 7.1 million,” President Kenyatta said.
“I urge all Kenyans to get vaccinated, 25 days to Christmas. I urge all to get the jab Let us be on the side of caution, protect our lives and those of all Kenyans.”
President Kenyatta added that a shot in the arm will be a shot in the arm of the Kenyan economy that is reeling from the battering of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This new variant remains unknown, so, it is better to err on the side of caution, by receiving our vaccinations we will have played our part in securing not only, our lives but also in protection the lives of those around us,” President Kenyatta said.
“The shot in the arm is the best weapon against a disease that has ravaged the world, that shot in the arm for every Kenyan adult will also be a shot in the arm for our economy and our social institution,”
Meanwhile, nations across the world continue to report cases of the variant which was first reported in South Africa.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is not yet clear whether Omicron, is more transmissible than other variants, or if it causes more severe disease.
Its severity, or whether it is more transmissible than other variants will not be known, at least not for several weeks, as experts gather, study and collate data according to the WHO.
Many European countries are already dealing with a surge in COVID-19 infections, with some reintroducing social activity restrictions to try to stem the spread.
