Kenya has received just over one million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine in the first batch from the global COVAX initiative that was created to ensure that low- and middle-income countries have fair access to vaccines.
Some 1.02 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Nairobi early Wednesday.
Kenyan Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe expressed excitement and optimism that the vaccines would help stop the spread of the coronavirus that has forced the East African country to partially lock down its economy with devastating consequences for many citizens.
The vaccines will first be administered to medical workers, following by teachers and police officers.
Chief of communications at UNICEF Kenya Andrew Brown said the African country will receive 3,5 million doses under the World Health Organization’s COVAX scheme.
He added that the scheme aims at providing 1.3 billion virus vaccine doses to low and middle-income countries in 2021.