蜜芽传媒

Kenya is one of the countries round the world taking a harder line now on people who are not vaccinated. If you're not vaccinated by 21st December you'll be barred from bars, restaurants and public transport. That's the latest announcement by the Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe and adds Kenya to the list of countries which are introducing a more forceful approach to the pandemic.

Nigeria has set 1st December for all government employees to get the jab. Austria has set 1st February as the date when all citizens will have to be vaccinated. Italy, France and the UK have all said health workers must get vaccinated. So is it good public health policy for the Kenyan government too?

鈥淚t鈥檚 about time,鈥� Kenyan Senator Sylvia Kasanga told Newsday. 鈥淲e are going into the festive season (when) lots of Kenyans are moving up and down the country visiting their loved ones... and you can imagine what will happen if our citizens are not vaccinated. Secondly, 鈥�next year is our general election."

"Already we are cognisant a lot of our citizens in the counties are still having a lot of apathy towards the vaccines and the uptake is very low and therefore the government needs鈥� to force Kenyans to do this otherwise we will not be ready for next year's public engagements which are so numerous during the political season."

(Pic: A Kenyan healthcare worker being vaccinated against Covid-19 in Nairobi; Credit: EPA)

Show less