President Kenyatta directs all Cabinet members to get the COVID-19 vaccine

President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed the entire Cabinet and Executive Office to get the COVID-19 vaccine as the government scales up the roll out exercise.

State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita made the announcement on Friday as he received the jab.

“As the Government scales up the roll out of the national COVID-19 Vaccine program , H.E the President has directed his entire Cabinet & Executive Office to lead by example & get the jab! Received mine this morning under the watchful guidance of the Ministry of Health vaccination team,” said Waita in a tweet.

As the Government scales up the roll out of the national #COVID19Vaccine program , H.E the President has directed his entire Cabinet & Executive Office to lead by example & get the jab! Received mine this morning under the watchful guidance of the @MOH_Kenya vaccination team. pic.twitter.com/oTV10NU4OV

— Nzioka Waita (@NziokaWaita) March 26, 2021

Following the increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations as well as deaths, the Ministry of Health on Thursday reviewed its priority list of those to be vaccinated to include persons aged 58 years and above.

In a press statement issued by Dr. Willis Akhwale, the chairperson of the COVID-19 vaccine deployment taskforce, people aged 58 and above are at most risk of severe disease and account for 60% of the recorded deaths.

“The country is now experiencing the 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with increasing number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. In view of this surge of the pandemic, and in order to protect and save lives, the Ministry of Health has decided to immediately prioritize vaccinations of persons aged 58 years and above,” reads the statement.

“According to our data these are at most risk of severe disease and account for 60% of our recorded deaths. This group of persons will now be a priority target group under the ongoing Phase 1 vaccination exercise. This prioritization is also aligned to the WHO and National Taskforce on Vaccine Deployment recommendations.”

The ministry further urged all political, religious and community leaders to take the vaccine so as to boost confidence in the overall vaccination process.

The first phase of the vaccination exercise is targeting 1.25 million frontline workers at a risk of infection.