The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi addressing journalists at Afya House in Nairobi on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. [Standard]
It has now emerged that some 840,000 doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Kenya have expired.
Chief Administrative Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dr Mercy Mwangangi made the revelation on Wednesday morning, March 23.
Addressing a press conference at Afya House in Nairobi, Mwangangi said that in January this year, 2.2 million AstraZeneca doses were donated through the Covax facility, with a shelf life of until February 28, 2022.
“The doses have been distributed to nine regional vaccine stores for utilisation by the counties. We received information that despite our efforts to administer close to 200,000 doses in a day, and more than three million doses were administered over a two-week period, the country may not be able to utilise all the AstraZeneca vaccines available before expiry,” she said.
This report, according to Mwangangi, indicates that every county registered expired vaccines.
“The highest being Nakuru 35,000, Busia 27,980 Kajiado 25,770, Kakamega 12,870 and Kwale 11,730,” she revealed.
According to the Ministry of Health, AstraZeneca has had unique challenges in administration.
“Some of those challenges include complacency by ourselves (Kenyans) in being able to take up the jab following the reduction of the positivity rate, and the number of Covid-19 admissions. This led to the loss of the 840,000 doses,” said the Health CAS.
“We do call on county governments to do all they can to ensure that all vaccines in their facilities are administered.”
However, vaccine expiry is not unique to Kenya only.
“The vaccines available across the world have short shelf lives, and this is a challenge to many countries. Expiries have been reported in both developed and developing countries. In Africa, we have seen countries destroy expired vaccines. These include our neighbours and other countries in the Horn of Africa,” said Mwangangi.
On March 11, the Ministry of Health, through consultations with the World Health Organization (WHO), lifted various restrictions of the Covid-19 prevention measures, key being the lifting of mandatory wearing of face masks in public.
Others include, full resumption of all public gatherings such as places of worship, full resumption of sporting activities and full capacity on all public service vehicles (PSVs).
join