Kenya is currently putting final touches to its Covid-19 vaccine roadmap.
The country’s vaccine team which consists of 11 members, says that its recommendation will officially be submitted to President Uhuru Kenyatta over the weekend, after which they could possibly be made public next week.
The task force is chaired by a senior advisor to President Kenyatta on Malaria, Dr Willis Akhwale, who has promised a solid deployment process of vaccination within the country after deliberations that began in December last year.
“It should be ready by Monday because after this meeting, we will embark on putting everything that we have deliberated and agreed on together to come up with one solid plan which we will submit to President Kenyatta, ” he said while speaking to the press.
The country’s Ministry of Health (MoH) said it is ensuring that as many voices are heard and considered as the team plans for rollout.
“The president and the Health cabinet secretary will be briefed once it’s complete, possibly by the weekend. But those present at this meeting include the WHO, Development partners, groups such as Red cross, Amref and others. MoH team includes the PS, DG and all heads of directorates. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is also present, ” a source at MoH said.
Dr Akwale last week said the county governments will not be left out in the vaccine distribution plan as the vaccines will trickle down to their level. “We will engage counties, look at all the financial options and availability,” he said.
The taskforce has been saddled with the responsibility of dissecting issues like vaccine hesitancy, vaccine depots, county engagement, cold chain storage and logistics and immunisation records as well donor interests among other issues surrounding Kenya’s preparedness.
This arrangement comes after it was reported that Kenya is expected to receive 11 million additional doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from the African Union (AU), which has secured a deal to procure 270 million of the vaccine for all member countries.