Over 300 elderly persons today flocked the Narok county referral hospital in a bid to get the Covid-19 vaccination.
A spot check at the Narok County referral hospital shows long queues mostly consisting of elderly persons struggling to get the vaccine.
61-year-old Joseph Nguo Laban said he arrived at the facility very early in the morning so that he can be attended among the first people but was amazed to meet tens of people already on the queue.
“I arrived at 6am thinking I am the first but I was shocked that I was number 74. This means people have accepted the government’s directive to voluntarily take the dose,” said Laban.
He reiterated that he was confident that the vaccine was well tested and suitable for fighting the novel Covid-19 disease that was killing many people around the world.
“I want to prevent myself from the virus before things get messy because I want to live long and see my grandchildren. If this vaccine is what will help me become immune to the disease, then I better take it,” he said.
Pastor Josphat Mwangi of the People’s Church asked residents not to ignore the directive by the government to get vaccinated.
He called on the National government to bring more doses saying the number of people volunteering for vaccination was increasing every day.
“We have seen the queues growing longer every day. I call upon the government to make sure there is enough vaccination so that the members of the public will not be forced to go to private hospitals for vaccination,” said the spiritual leader.
According to the data with the department of Health, 3,209 persons had received the jab by close of business Tuesday.
The data shows that among those who have received the vaccination in the county are 773 health workers, 421 security officers, 417 teachers and 1598 others. The county was allocated 6, 000 doses in the first phase of vaccination.
So far, the county has reported 579 cumulative confirmed positive cases and 21 deaths reported. Only one person is in the facility based isolation center.
By Ann Salaton
