A major Covid-19 vaccination crisis is looming in Kenya after India froze the exportation of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Wednesday evening.

India’s move comes in the wake of a spike in coronavirus infections in the Asian powerhouse.

Its decision could lead to delays in the arrival of the next batch expected late next month.

On March 3, 2021, Kenya received 1.02 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from India through the UN-backed COVAX platform, part of an initial allocation to the country of 3.56 million doses. On March 11, Kenya received an additional 100,000 doses from the Indian government.

Two days later, the government launched a nationwide inoculation programme targeting healthcare workers, teachers and security officers. However, this week  the number of vaccine seekers outside the priority list has been swelling.

Kenya is expecting the second batch of vaccines to be shipped late next month on time for Phase 2 of the vaccination programme projected to begin towards the end of April and early May.

However, experts in the country have downplayed fears of a vaccination crisis giving a projection of the next two months for the country to be in a vaccination flood.

Vaccine research expert, Prof Omu Anzala said Kenyans should not worry since there are other source markets for the jab as Europe races to cover its population before it releases the vaccines in her stocks.

“As Europe and other Western countries vaccinate more of her populations, it is expected that in the next one or two months, they will reach their threshold, and the ripple effect is that vaccines will become available for Africans,” Anzala who has been part of the team developing the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine told People Daily yesterday.

Scaling up supply 

The virologist further assured that despite the geopolitical situation around the vaccines and their availability, there are alternative sources of the jab.

“It is also worth to note that there are many other manufacturers in Europe that Kenya will look up to in case the ban lengthens.

There is still the fact that there is no tall order for manufacturers to produce more vaccines if demand requires so,” Anzala added.

He expressed hope that with the huge consignments held by countries such as Canada and the US, the year is not likely to end with Kenya experiencing any shortage.

“I am not worried at all. I don’t think this year will end before African countries getting their requirements done.

Within the next two months for instance, the US would have covered her 400 million population. Currently they have vaccinated about 120 million,” he added.

According to Reuters, the India Government made the communication to UNICEF and the World Health Organisation and Covax had informed participating countries that they would receive lower than expected volumes in March.

“In line with the challenges of the current global supply environment, this is due to challenges the company faces in rapidly scaling up supply and optimising production processes for these early deliveries,” read a statement by UNICEF.

However, according to UNICEF, Covax would make up for the delayed volumes in the months of April and May.