Acting Health Director-General Patrick Amoth on Friday became the first Kenyan to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Dr Amoth received the AstraZeneca jab at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) a few minutes past noon.
Soon after Amoth was vaccinated, Dr Jemimah Katama, Dr Collins Tabu, Dr Kennedy Momanyi and Dr Juliana Muiva respectively took the opportunity to be vaccinated.
Dr Amoth said the vaccine is safe and free for all, and urged Kenyans to portray the right message to the public.
“We shall offer ourselves to be vaccinated today. Let us portray the correct message to the public,” he said.
Dr. Amoth’s sentiments come days after President Uhuru Kenyatta flagged off trucks carrying the Covid-19 vaccines at the Central Vaccine Depot in Kitengela, Kajiado County.
The Head of State also cautioned Kenyans to stop peddling falsehoods on the Covid-19 vaccination exercise. He said frontline health workers and service providers will be the first in line to receive the vaccine.
Health Permanent Secretary Susan Mochache said the vaccination exercise will begin in all county referral hospitals after the launch at KNH.
Mochache said the ministry is employing a data management registry system to enable traceability and provide required reports.
“It is our responsibility to ensure all health care workers get the needed support. This may mark the beginning of the end of the pandemic,” she said.
The Covid-19 vaccines were procured by UNICEF under the COVAX vaccine pool facility. The next batch of vaccines is expected in the country either by the end of March or early April.
Nairobi county will receive the highest doses of the initial distribution of 495,000. It will receive 138,000 doses, Kisumu 54,000, Nakuru an equal number and Mombasa 54,000. Kakamega County will receive 42,000, Garissa and Meru 21,000 each and lastly, Nyeri, 18,000.
All Level 6 hospitals will receive 33,000 doses while the military level 4 hospitals will receive 21,000 doses. The quantity of vaccines for each county was determined by the number of frontline workers.
Those vaccinated today signed a consent note and after receiving the jab, took a rest for 30 minutes before they were discharged.