FILE PHOTO: Technicians show empty containers used for the transport of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after the vaccines were put into refrigerated storage units at the central vaccine depot in Kitengela town on the outskirts of Nairobi, in Kenya Thursday, March 4, 2021. /Ben Curtis /VCG
The number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered in Kenya surpassed the 750,000 mark on Wednesday as the country continues giving jabs nationally.
According to the health ministry, some 750,471 have received jabs of the vaccines, with priority given to high-risk groups including healthcare workers, the elderly and people offering other essential services.
Kenya rolled out its mass vaccination drive on March 5 after receiving some 1.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The country now expects to obtain some 25 million doses for its over 52 million population, with plans in place to roll out the administration of the second doses of COVID-19 vaccines by May 5.
The East African country has so far reported 153,488 COVID-19 infections with 2,540 deaths.
Besides the vaccination drive, various government-imposed containment measures remain in place, including a nationwide nighttime curfew, a partial lockdown affecting the highly affected areas and a mandatory wearing of face coverings.