Are those vaccines that were donated by UK to Kenya legit?
There’s confusion in the removal of Kenya from the United Kingdoms’ red list.
In a Twitter post, a UK-based Kenyan-born journalist Kimberley Leonard responded to a Twitter question over vaccines throwing the whole matter of Kenya’s removal from that country’s red list into disarray.
“If you are coming into #England from non-red list but with an unrecognised vaccine, you’ll need to take PCR tests & quarantine for 10 days (not in a hotel). PCR tests on day 2 and day 8. Or pay for one on Day 5 and if negative, you’re free to leave quarantine,” Kimberley tweeted shortly after UK announced that it has removed Kenya and some other countries from its red list.
“What are the unrecognised vaccines?,” Lemaiyan Leiyan immediately asked her.
“Any vaccine administered in Kenya is unrecognised – so coming in, you will need to quarantine – but not in a hotel. PCR test on arrival, on day 2 and day 8. OR – have a PCR test on day 5 and if negative, you can leave quarantine,” Kimberley responded
Some Kenyans expressed shock at the move, others trolled the issue.
Red listed countries are those that have a higher incidence of covid-19 virus and are blacklisted
So which is which?
Just last month, the UK government donated a total of 817,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses under the COVAX initiative.
“We are now receiving the second batch of vaccines that have been donated by the United Kingdom Government to boost our national COVID-19 vaccination programme. In addition to supporting the ongoing rollout of the COVID vaccines to our health workers, teachers other essential workers and Kenyans older than 58 years, the vaccines we have received today, will greatly support our target to vaccinate 10 million adults by the end of December 2021. We are therefore very grateful to the United Kingdom Government for this generous donation,” Dr Patrick Amoth said in August 2021.
UNICEF, UK High Commission and MoH must come out and clear the air.