By Lydia Ngoolo
Makueni County Health Promotion Officer Breta Mutisya has appreciated all learning institutions for their Covid-19 vaccine awareness levels and campaigns.
Speaking during Makueni journalist Covid-19 sensitization engagement at Makueni Referral Hospital, Mutisya observed that teachers are very supportive of the Covid-19 awareness programmes in schools, an ongoing high court case notwithstanding.
“Though there has been a court case on Covid-19 vaccines among learners, we pray that it will be hastened so that the learners can get the vaccine,” Mutisya said.
She added that she is happy the awareness is still intact and if the case is determined giving the jab a go ahead, she is sure many will be vaccinated.
In June this year, the High Court stopped the government from administering Covid-19 vaccines on children aged below 18 years across the country.
The uptake was good before this injunction.
Although learners are not qualified to give consent, parents had to be involved through the Parents Association (PA) and Board of Management (BoM).
Makueni is ranked number 26 nationally in terms of vaccine uptake, having 192,843 fully vaccinated individuals from a target population of 700,000, translating to 34 per cent.
Mutisya said they are working together with USAID Anglican development services for better health to reach a larger number.
She decried the high rate of defaulting, calling upon everyone to be their brother’s keeper in terms of reminding them of their next dose.
“All vaccines are available in all our health facilities. We will even do outreach, and involve all chiefs in their barazas to create awareness and all leaders as well,” the officer said.
She called upon the general public to shun myths spreading about the vaccine, claiming they were unfounded rumours without scientific efficacy.
“I urge the public to get authentic information from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Covid-19 is still a threat and we need good health among our population,” Mutisya said.
