Kenya suspends private importation of vaccines over counterfeiting fears

Kenya’s National Emergency Response Committee on coronavirus announced on Friday that the country will no longer allow the private sector to import, distribute and administer coronavirus vaccines in an effort to “protect the integrity of the country.”

“To ensure transparency and accountability in the vaccination exercise, and to protect the integrity of the country, the Government is effective today closing the window of private sector importation, distribution and administration of vaccines until such a time when it is confident that there is greater transparency and accountability in the entire process in the interest of public health safety,” said a statement posted to the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page.

The committee added that the participation of the private sector in vaccination efforts “threatens the gains made in the fight against Covid-19 and puts the country at international risk should counterfeit commodities find their way into the Kenyan market.”

The committee also said that any individuals caught advertising or vaccinating people for a fee will be in violation of the Public Health Act, and liable for prosecution.

The “only agent” for inoculation in Kenya will remain the the nation’s government “until further notice,” the statement read.

The committee noted, however, that individuals who have already received their first dose outside the government deployment plan will receive their second dose when due.

The Associated Press reported private health establishments have been charging around $80 apiece for Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, while Kenyan institutions are administering free AstraZeneca vaccines the government was given by the global COVAX initiative.

According to The AP, the Kenyan government has been working to battle hesitancy about the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine among frontline workers.

Following the announcement of new restrictions on movement amid a surge in COVID-19 infections and deaths, Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 26 led his cabinet in getting vaccinated publicly, the AP reported.

According to Reuters, Kenya has administered at least 161,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses so far. Assuming that every person needs 2 doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 0.2 percent of the country’s population, Reuters noted.

Since the start of the pandemic, Kenya has recorded more than 138,000 coronavirus cases, and more than 2,200 deaths, according to Reuters.