Omicron: Government might give Covid-19 booster shots

Medical experts have urged the government to consider rolling out Covid-19 booster vaccines on the face of Omicron variant.

Acting Director of Medical Services Dr Andrew Mulwa told The Standard that the Ministry of Health is considering rolling out booster vaccines with the most vulnerable population including the elderly and those with comorbidities being a priority group.

“Scientifically, there is evidence that immunity acquired from either infection or vaccination, after about 12 months similar to Covid-19,” said Dr Mulwa, who is also Head of Directorate of Preventive and Promotive Health.

Though Kenya is yet to develop policy on issuance of booster shots many countries in the developed world long started giving booster doses.

But Dr Mulwa noted that focus for the government, for now, is to reach the 30 million adults to create herd immunity, but since vaccine supplies have improved “we are considering the idea of introduction of booster vaccines, especially the most vulnerable who are the elderly” as at least 70 percent of mortality documented currently, is among the vulnerable and elderly population.

Concerning effectiveness of vaccines in protecting people against infections, he said there is no publishes data to show vaccines are not working against Omicron variants.

 “The new variant is spreading faster but weaker, which to me, from a scientific view is a good thing, in the life cycle of the pandemic, because we are getting a weaker variant, which may be an indication of the end of the pandemic. We are therefore asking Kenyans to get vaccinated,” pleaded Dr Mulwa.

 Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya CEO Dr Daniella Munene supported the idea of issuing out a third jab to boost immunity as the country heads towards the festive season.

“This is the best time to give boosters for those who are willing to take a booster dose,” said Dr Munene. “The country has availability of more jabs, and that we are racing against time, to utilize them.”

Kenya has so far received 23 million doses and by December 6 about eight million vaccines have been administered with about five million people partially vaccinated and only roughly three million fully vaccinated, according to the Ministry of Health.

"People should show up quickly, because the festive season will cause a rise in infections, and we do not have our hospitals full over Christmas,” advices Dr Munene adding that people should get the first or second dose as “we do not have a supply issue this time. The government should encourage Kenyans to go get the jab.”

Dr Catherine Kyobutungi on her part said “with increased stocks now in the country, most being donated and likely with a short expiry window, I would say give boosters to those in need/ want them. It is better than letting the vaccines expire”.

 Prof Julius Oyugi virologist, and also Director at the University of Nairobi, Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases concurs that “the Government should allow booster doses to those at risk and also those who are willing.”  

Prof Oyugi adds that studies show that people with two jabs are not fully protected against Omicron compared with those with a booster vaccine which prolongs protection against all variants currently in circulation including Alpha, Delta and now Omicron and “the idea of booster vaccines is because it is not yet clear on how long the vaccines can protect individuals’ immunity.”

H also says booster vaccines are important, especially among people with comorbidities as they enhance ability to fight Covid-19 viruses at the same time, prolong duration of protection against emerging variants and “if we have enough vaccines, we should start giving people booster vaccines.”

Dr Ahmed Kalebi, the founder and retired CEO of Pathologists Lancet Kenya explained on his Twitter handle that the need for booster shots is because “scientific evidence shows that within five to six months the protective level of the vaccines wane, therefore the most vulnerable in the population who were vaccinated earlier in the year are very much exposed now, thus in need of urgent booster.”

Dr Moses Masika, a virologist, and Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative (KAVI) Institute of Clinical Research and Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi also supports the idea of booster jabs arguing they’re “beneficial because the protection induced by vaccines wear off after several months.”

Dr Masika adds that due to supply limitations, priority should be to reach out to as many people as possible before rolling out on boosters whose priority should go to “those at highest risk of infection and those at highest risk of severe disease.”