'Vaccinated Kenyans flouting COVID-19 measures'

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – The Kenya Council of Governors on Tuesday said many Kenyans who have been vaccinated are no longer observing the COVID-19 mitigation measures, expressing concern over the rising coronavirus infections.

In a press statement, Anyang’ Nyong’o, the chairman of the Health Committee, said seven counties, including Nakuru, Kakamega, Meru, Uasin Gishu, Murang’a, Nyeri, and Kisumu, have reported rises in infections, overwhelming the health system.

“There is also an emerging trend where some individuals who have been vaccinated are no longer observing the COVID-19 measures due to the misguided notion that the vaccine guarantees immunity against the virus.”

The Kenyan governors urged every Kenyan to adhere to the COVID-19 mitigation measures such as social distancing, wearing of masks, and washing hands in fighting the virus.

Nyong’o added that all counties will now release a weekly situational report to track COVID-19 in their areas.

“To avoid a policy paralysis witnessed in other countries, all 47 county governments will take a proactive approach towards the fight against COVID-19. To this end, county governments will issue weekly situational reports on the status of caseload, measures taken, and intervention put in place,” he added.

Cumulatively, 469,496 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been distributed across 31 counties, with 379,572 doses administered to healthcare workers (73,690), security personnel (32,000), and teachers (69,035), among others (204,847).

Counties also called on Kenya’s Health Ministry to urgently take steps to end a shortage of anti-retroviral drugs that hit the East African nation, putting many lives at risk.

The country has so far recorded nearly 157,000 cases, with 2,643 deaths, and almost 107,000 recoveries.