Governors urged to lead vaccination campaigns

As the national rollout of The Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine accelerates, the Council of Governors (COG) Chairman Martin Nyaga Wambora has rallied Kenyans to get vaccinated.

Speaking after he was publicly vaccinated alongside the first lady Teresia Wambora in Embu, the COG chairman who is also the Embu County Governor called on all the 47 governors to lead the vaccination campaigns from the front.

I said it last week and I will repeat it today; all governors will lead the vaccination from their home counties. We must all lead by example” Wambora said.

He sought to dispel rumours that the vaccine not effective adding that the vaccination campaigns are the among the first to use doses provided by the national government with approval from the World Health Organisation.

“COVID-19 has changed the world. It has cost lives, battered health systems, and damaged livelihoods. But, through these challenges, we have seen the best of humanity exemplified through strong support from development partners and the World Health Organization”, the COG chairman said.

To maximise the public health benefit of the vaccine, Wabora reiterated that the first doses will be prioritized for health and essential workers, and other at-risk groups.

“This important milestone will allow Embu and all the other 46 Counties to get back to business, and build back our economy even stronger than before,” he noted.

Embu County Deputy Governor David Kariuki who also doubles as the CEC for health said. “The last year has been a dark one for families all over the world, but the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines provided a flicker light at the end of the tunnel”.

Governor Wambora urged Embu residents to continue observing the ministry of health guidelines even have they have been inoculated.

“The spread of new COVID-19 variants means we must remain vigilant, wash your hands with running water and soap, wear a face mask correctly in public places and observe social distance” he added.