Kenya Receives Fifth Type of Covid-19 Jabs From China

Kenya on Saturday morning, 18th September received some 200,000 doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine from China.

This is the first batch of the Chinese vaccine in Kenya and is the fifth type of the jab that will be deployed in the country alongside Astrazeneca, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson and Pfizer.

The arrival of the Sinopharm vaccines came just a day after the Pfizer vaccine from the United States arrived in the country.

“The vaccines we are receiving today are testament to the cordial relations that exist between our two countries that extend beyond health care to include trade and other sectors of development,” Health PS Susan Mochache said while receiving the consignment at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

“Like in many other areas, China has distinguished herself in quality products and the vaccines we are receiving here today are of high quality and have also been approved by the World Health Organization,” said Mochache.

The PS thanked the people of China represented by the Minister Counselor to Kenya for supporting Kenya’s vaccination exercise.

“I am sure there are a lot of questions regarding this vaccine. Let me state from the onset that the Sinopharm vaccine is a two-dose vaccine with a 28-day gap between the first and second dose. In addition, the storage condition is 2 to 8 degrees. This will therefore fit in very well in the current cold chain storage capacity we have in our vaccine stores,” she explained.

She noted that all Health care workers have already been trained on the administration of this vaccine, as is the case with all the other vaccines that have so far been received.

The PS noted that although this consignment has been delivered courtesy of our strong bilateral relations with China, Sinopharm is also available through the Government of Kenya engagement with the COVAX mechanism, and the country shall be getting more supplies through the platform in the near future when available.

Mochache appealed to the people who have not been vaccinated to use this chance to do so in order to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“Like we have stated before all vaccines are the same and perform the same function. They protect you from the severe illness and death from the Covid-19 disease,” she emphasized.