AfricaPress-Kenya: Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Saturday, March 13, explained why he is yet to take the Covid-19 vaccination.
Kagwe said that he did not want Kenyans to accuse him of queue jumping, adding that he would patiently wait for his turn.
“I will not take the vaccine until it gets to my turn on the priority list. If I take it before I will be accused of rushing, if I do not take it, I will be accused of not leading by example,” the CS told Nation.
He added that it would be bad if he took the vaccine and a healthcare worker misses on it.
The CS further expressed confidence in the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and urged Kenyans to come out and get vaccinated in large numbers.
“We have used our vaccines for a week and it’s too soon to tell its effect, we are also carrying out tests to determine its effectiveness,” he said.
A section of Kenyans who have been suspicious about taking the vaccine had advocated politicians and those in authority to be the first to get the jab, after which they would follow suit.
On his part, President Uhuru Kenyatta said that he would take the Covid-19 vaccination jab after consulting his doctors.
“I will, of course, take the jab when my doctors say so, and at my own wish, and not under pressure from anybody,” the president declared.
He stated that experts would advise on whether leaders would be among the first to get the vaccine or not.
The routine in most countries has been for the heads of states and senior government officials to publicly take the vaccine as a way of encouraging public uptake.
“This is the time to come together to be able to give much-needed service, but we don’t have to dwell on insinuations on who should be vaccinated first,” the president stated.
Kenya received its first consignment of 1.02 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine last week. The vaccines have been produced by the Serum Institute of India. The country also received a donation of 100,000 doses of the vaccines on Thursday.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has moved to reassure the world on the safety of the vaccine after a number of countries suspended its use over fear it may cause blood clots.
