Baringo County has Intensified Covid-19 Vaccination targeting to vaccinate 179,000 people in the latest vaccination drive against Covid-19. Speaking when a 10-day Covid-19 vaccination exercise in Kabarnet Town, Baringo Chief Officer (CO) for Medical Services Salome Chelimo said they are rolling out the vaccination drive across the county with much attention on youth and learners in the various institutions.
She said that the focus has been informed by the fact that the county recorded low uptake of vaccines with most youth staying away from the lifesaving vaccines. The medical services CO stated that the health department has fully vaccinated a paltry 22.3 per cent of the population with most youth aged 12 up to 24 years avoiding the jab.
“In order for us to win the fight against Covid-19 everybody must get vaccinated besides maintaining the protocols laid down by the Ministry of Health,”
She challenged the youth to embrace the exercise by turning out in large numbers and get vaccinated since they are the population who are likely to endanger the lives of the elderly in the society. The Chief Officer accompanied by County director of Preventive and Promotive Health Dr Patrick Boruett also dispelled rumors that the vaccines are likely to cause side effects, stating that in fact they are very safe when administered on human body.
George Ngao, the director of education at Baringo Central, praised the program and said it is one method of providing Covid 19 prevention in educational institutions.
Ngao pointed out that the ten-day vaccination effort will help majority groups in upper primary and secondary schools and so stop the virus’s spread.
Aminata Ambani, a representative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), stated that in addition to providing booster shots to the elderly and immunocompromised people during the exercise.