Council of governors concerned by slow uptake of Covid vaccine by frontline workers

Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital nursing officer Beverlyne Wambani injects the CEC in charge of Health Dr Collins Matemba with Astra-Zeneca vaccine. [Photo/Nathan Ochunge, Standard]

The Council of governors has expressed concerns over the slow uptake of Covid-19 jabs by the frontline workers.

The governors' lobby said all county governments should enhance advocacy measures to increase public confidence in the effectiveness of the vaccine, especially among the target population.

In a statement signed by Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o, who is the Councils' chairperson for the health committee, the council said so far 874,932 doses had been administered across the 47 counties.

Nyong'o said of the doses, members of the general public lead with 356,278 doses followed by Healthcare workers with 136,084 doses.

While 97,786 teachers have so far received the jabs, 52,603 security personnel have been vaccinated.

The vaccination process was rolled out last month with healthcare workers, security personnel, teachers and those aged above 60 years being the target population.

The exercise however received a lukewarm reception from this target population.

Nyong'o said testing of Covid-19 across all counties has slowed down due to a lack of testing kits.

He said this meant that County Governments had no control over the increasing number of infections.

"We, therefore, urge the Ministry of Health to avail [sic] rapid testing kits (antigens) and PCR COVID-19 testing equipment to all Counties to stem the spread of the virus," Nyong'o said.

The governor said currently there is a total of 7,751 beds in 142 isolation centres out of which 6,890 beds are available for patients.

The bed capacity is in 38 out of the 47 counties.

"There are a total of 375 beds in the ICU out of which 321 beds are available for new patients and there are a total of 167 beds in the HDU out of which 107 beds are available for new patients," he said.

So far Kenya has reported 152,523 against 1,611,679 cumulative tests since the first case was reported in March last year.

Some 103,838 patients have recovered with 2,519 others having succumbed to the disease.