By Lydia Gichuki
Children aged five years and above could soon start receiving the Covid19 vaccine once the Ministry of Health approves the proposal.
The Ministry’s proposal to include that category in the list of those eligible for the jab is on the table and could be completed soon.
In addition, the government targets to vaccinate 800,000 youths who completed their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education earlier this year.
This comes at a time when the country‘s positivity rate continues to rise. The month of May’s positivity rate increased from 0.6 percent at the beginning of the month to 4.4 at the end of the month. Thus far, the country has a 5.7 percent positivity rate.
On the matter, World Health Organization says although covid19 doesn’t cause major ailments to children, those with other underlying conditions are at a higher risk of developing serious symptoms.
To this end, the organization recommends vaccination against Covid19 for children above five years, saying this protects children from getting sick and reduces transmission.
WHO has recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children above five years and the Moderna vaccine for children above 12 years old.
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However, it says, some countries have licensed different vaccines for use in children based on their own regulatory bodies having examined their safety and efficacy.
In a Country like the United States of America persons above five years are eligible for covid19 jab and vaccination is set to start on June 12.
According to CDC currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine authorized or approved for children ages 5 through 17 years.
Photo Credit; international disability alliance