Health officials in Embu County have called on residents to get vaccinated against Covid-19 disease to build resilience against the contagion amid rising infections and low vaccine uptake.
The County, according to Director of Public Health Rosaline Kaugi, has recorded 48 new positive cases with four being put under isolation as the country continues to experience sixth wave of the disease.
She at the same time reported that Embu was one of the 24 counties flagged by the government over low uptake of the vaccine and put under 10-day accelerated vaccination campaign that commenced on Monday this week.
Ms Kaugi said the county had so far recorded 32 percent immunisation coverage against a target of 85 percent needed to achieve the required herd immunity.
Consequently, the Director said health workers in the area had been put on an overdrive to meet the target of vaccinating 65, 000 people in the 10 days set for the campaign that will lapse on Wednesday next week.
“We want to exploit every possible platform including, public barazas, church gatherings, campaign meetings as well as carryout door-to-door visits to ensure we not only meet but surpass the target,” the officer said.
Speaking on Wednesday during a stakeholders meeting in Embu Town, Ms. Kaugi cautioned residents that the pandemic was far from over and vaccination remained the most important tool to overcome it.
She said there were enough stocks of Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccine doses for the first, second and booster doses.
The directors also implored on residents to continue adhering to prevention protocols of physical distancing, wearing of masks in public places as well as washing hands regularly with soap or using sanitisers.
County Commissioner Eddyson Nyale said they will in the remaining days mobilise all National Government Administration officers (NGAO) to ramp up vaccination to achieve the target.
“We are also bringing on board community policing teams such as the Nyumba Kumi Clusters to ensure we reach the unvaccinated population to receive the lifesaving jab,” he said.
