Not everyone can walk into a vaccination centre and get jab yet – CS Kagwe

Ministry of Health CS Mutahi Kagwe at his office moments before receiving the first batch of Covid-19 vaccine at JKIA on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Not everyone can walk into a vaccination centre in Kenya and get a Covid-19 vaccine jab, CS Mutahi Kagwe has warned.

Speaking to the press in Nairobi on Monday, CS Kagwe noted vaccines were not available to everyone but are administered through a prioritised vaccine list.

CS Kagwe said 530,000 doses of the Oxford-Azteneca vaccine had already been distributed to various regional centres across the country, with over 40,000 individuals vaccinated as of today.

Any eligible officer can get vaccinated at any facility for free at any referral and select facility in the country.

“Vaccination is available to eligible members of our society and select facilities in the country. These include those owned privately and by faith-based organisations. Any eligible officer can turn up for vaccination at any facility designated as a vaccination site and get their jab for free,” said CS Kagwe.

A Police officer stands guard as the first batch of AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines under the COVAX scheme against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) arrives at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on March 3, 2021 [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

CS Kagwe noted with concern some vaccination facilities (especially private) turning away officers not working for them and urged them to administer the vaccine to "qualified members of society".

“So long as the facility has been designated as a vaccination site, it should administer vaccines to all qualified members of the society without discrimination. We should, however, administer to those not prioritised in the vaccines list. Vaccines are not available for everybody as yet,” he said.

The Health CS said vaccination centres would have to account for every dose used, which must be matched against an eligible person for accountability purposes. He asked medical officers to adhere to guidelines while administering doses of the vaccine, insisting legal measures will be taken to those breaking protocol.

CS Kagwe finally asked front-line workers to get vaccinated at the nearest facility available to them.  

He advised those who had already been vaccinated to avoid exposure to the virus again since one does not become immune immediately after the jab.