Distribution of the 30,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses allocated to Nakuru County commenced this morning with the Kenya Defence Forces getting 10 per cent of the jabs.
County Executive Member for Health, Kariuki Gichuki said 3,000 doses will be supplied to the Lanet Regional Military Hospital which serves members of the Kenya Defence Forces.
He said the remainder which was delivered at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital on Monday would be shared among the more than 250 public and private hospitals in the region.
Gichuki said a section of doctors, health care workers and support staff at the county referral hospital had received the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination.
“The health department targets to vaccinate about 11,000 healthcare workers, members of the County health management teams, drivers, cleaners and other hospital employees,” he said.
The CECM said security guards at the hospitals as well as the other support staff were as exposed to contracting Covid-19 as the medics.
Kenya received one million Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines Tuesday last week which has been set aside for medical workers, disciplined forces and teachers.
Gichuki who also received the jab said those vaccinated today will get their second dose on May 3.
Other senior county medical officials who got the jab today are Acting County Director of Medical Services, Daniel Wainaina, Public Health Director, Elizabeth Kiptoo and the Director of Health for Administration and Planning, Benedict Osore.
While citing the new and potent South Africa variant, he urged the public to continue observing the set Covid-19 containment measures irrespective of the availability of the vaccine.
Nakuru has recorded 4,961 confirmed infection cases of Covid-19 and 102 deaths since the first case was first reported in the Country.
County Health Promotion Officer, Ellen Ngware said the vaccine will be given in three phases starting with the current one which will be ongoing until June this year followed by another for elders and individuals with underlying conditions.
She said the last phase will be open for any person willing to be vaccinated. BY THE STAR