Editor's Review

  • Government willing to pay if anybody suffers permanent damage during the vaccination process.
  • Private entities have rolled out the Russian vaccine, Sputnik which has a 92 per cent efficacy.

The government will offer compensation if anybody suffers permanent damage, dies as a result of the vaccination process.

Ministry of Health acting Director-General of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth confirmed this after controversy emerged surrounding the Russian Covid-19 vaccine in Kenya.

The Russian government distanced itself from the vaccine deal, saying it is the obligation of the private importers to follow all the regulations of Kenyan authorities.

Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi and lawyer Donald Kipkorir said they had received their jabs at a private clinic in Nairobi, confirming earlier reports that the vaccine was already in use.

The vaccine imported by Dinlas Pharma EPZ Limited was approved for emergency use by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, the Kenyan regulator. However, it is awaiting the ministry's approval for its rollout.

Vaccine Rollout

Sputnik which has a 92 percent efficacy, is Kenya’s first commercial Covid vaccine and clients are paying Sh8,000 per shot.

Meanwhile, the Aga Khan University Hospital has temporarily suspended the issuance of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine after it ran out of stock.

In a statement, Aga Khan noted that the government-sponsored vaccination exercise will resume once the hospital receives more doses of the vaccine.

According to the Ministry of Health, over 130,000 Kenyans have been vaccinated so far. MoH further noted that out of the 1.12 million doses of the vaccine delivered to the country, 806,000 have been distributed countrywide.