Younger Adults Urged to Take the COVID-19 Vaccine as Medical Training Receives a Boost
Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Ms. Susan Mochache has urged the younger adults to take up the COVID-19 vaccination to boost their immunity in addition to helping curb the spread of the virus.
“Our statistics show that younger adults have not yet embraced the vaccination uptake campaign even when there is evidence that many of them actually contract the virus,” she said.
The PS was speaking today, June 16, 2022 during the roll-out of the COVID- 19 booster shot at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) headquarters in Nairobi.
Ms. Mochache reported that the roll-out at KMTC was significant because the exercise targets learning institutions, mainly students and staff of all tertiary learning institutions. She noted that out of 18,498,777 administered vaccines as at June 15, 2022 only 1,468,375 doses had been administered to young people aged between 15 to 17 years, the group that comprises a huge part of the Kenyan population.
“Research conducted on the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine has revealed that immuno-compromised people might need a third dose. In addition, over time, the immunity, even for healthy people, starts to go down necessitating the booster shot for increased immune response,” the PS added.
Additionally, Ms. Mochache conveyed that the Ministry has now ensured that under the accelerated COVID-19 vaccination programme, KMTC campuses serve as vaccination centers as part of the critical role that KMTC plays in ensuring that Kenyans remain healthy.
Speaking at the same event, KMTC Board Chairperson Amb. Zachary Muburi-Muita assured of the College’s continued commitment to support the Government in the fight against the virus.
“To complement government efforts in the fight against the Coronavirus, KMTC partnered with the Ministry of Health, to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the country,” he said, adding “We commit to continue availing our infrastructure and human resource towards this worthy course.”
The KMTC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kelly Oluoch on the other hand encouraged uptake of the COVID-19 booster shot noting that the virus still remains a challenge and urged all to be vigilant to curtail the spread.
Dr. Oluoch reported that to ensure the College continues to produce competent healthcare professionals, able to tackle the COVID-19 challenge alongside emerging and re-emerging diseases, KMTC continues to review curricula and seek partnerships that build on this mandate. “Being a strategic Government Health Training Institution, KMTC plays an important role in
propelling the country towards the attainment of specific Health-related targets, including Sustainable Development Goals and Kenya Vison 2030,” he said.
The CEO further reported that the College has partnered with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) with KMTC clinics across the country receiving accreditation to offer medical services to members of the public using their NHIF cards.
On the sidelines of the event, the PS commissioned seven College buses for various KMTC Campuses as part of efforts to enhance teaching and learning. “These buses will ensure that students get to their clinical placement areas and the community easily and conveniently where they serve even as they learn, enhancing accessibility to health services,” she said.
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