Nelly
Member
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has approved the use of China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Kenya.
The approval came after China declared interest in supplying Kenya with coronavirus jabs early this year, according to the Ministry of Health.
Acting Director-General of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth had earlier announced that Kenya was in negotiations with China and other vaccine manufacturers.
Dr. Willis Akhwale, chair of Kenya’s vaccine advisory task force, said they aim to flood the country with a variety of World Health Organization-approved vaccines to achieve the target of inoculating 10 million people by December.
The task force had initially put on hold the idea of buying Chinese vaccines due to price constraints. China’s vaccines are going for around $30 a dose compared to J&J which is $7 a dose.
“Kenya has approved Sinopharm. We have confidence in its efficacy since it has been certified by WHO,” said Akhwale.
Sinopharm was granted emergency use by the World Health Organization to boost ongoing inoculation against the virus.
Kenya is expected to receive two million Sinopharm doses, with the first consignment of 200,000 shots donated by China expected in September.
The approval came after China declared interest in supplying Kenya with coronavirus jabs early this year, according to the Ministry of Health.
Acting Director-General of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth had earlier announced that Kenya was in negotiations with China and other vaccine manufacturers.
Dr. Willis Akhwale, chair of Kenya’s vaccine advisory task force, said they aim to flood the country with a variety of World Health Organization-approved vaccines to achieve the target of inoculating 10 million people by December.
The task force had initially put on hold the idea of buying Chinese vaccines due to price constraints. China’s vaccines are going for around $30 a dose compared to J&J which is $7 a dose.
“Kenya has approved Sinopharm. We have confidence in its efficacy since it has been certified by WHO,” said Akhwale.
Sinopharm was granted emergency use by the World Health Organization to boost ongoing inoculation against the virus.
Kenya is expected to receive two million Sinopharm doses, with the first consignment of 200,000 shots donated by China expected in September.