The department of health in Murang’a County is employing various strategies to ensure all local residents aged 15 years and above are fully vaccinated against covid-19 virus.
Currently, 41.8 percent of the county residents are fully vaccinated with scores failing to get a second dose.
The County Health Promotional officer Danson Mwangi has observed that there is need to engage all stakeholders and employ other measures to ensure every eligible resident is vaccinated against covid-19 by end of this year.
Speaking during a consultative forum with various stakeholders on Wednesday at a Murang’a hotel, Mwangi said the health department has partnered with AMREF to ensure the vaccine is taken closer to people especially in rural areas.
“In Murang’a, 235, 416 residents are fully vaccinated. This is against 379, 918 who are partially immunized against coronavirus. We appeal for those who took the first dose to go for the second one. The vaccines are available in all health centres and dispensaries,” added Mwangi.
He noted that those aged 15 years above and are eligible for vaccination in the county are 675,364 people.
Kiharu Sub county is leading with 63, 039 of local residents being fully vaccinated. Murang’a South is following with 48, 208 being vaccinated.
Mwangi said as a department of health and with logistical support from the AMREF, they are aiming to attain 100 percent vaccination by the end of this year.
“Best way to fight covid-19 is to ensure the majority of the residents in the county are fully vaccinated. We have enough vaccines available at all public health facilities,” he noted.
“Some of private hospitals are also doing the vaccination so no one should complain of not accessing the jab,” asserted the health officer.
Health workers present said there is need to correct misinformation associated with the covid-19 vaccines claiming that the majority of young people were shying off from getting vaccinated.
They asked members of the clergy to work with the health department and ensure the right information about the jab is spread.
“The clergy can help us in giving the right information about the vaccine. Some propaganda associated with the jab are somehow contributing to the low number of those vaccinated,” Mwangi further said.
He continued, “We also want to employ better communication methods to encourage people to go for the vaccine.”
By Bernard Munyao
