Kenya to get new H1N1 vaccine

  1. Posted on Wednesday 14 October 2009 - 09:30
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    Alex Kiarie, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Kenya is one of the 100 countries selected by the World Health Organisation as the beneficiaries of the new H1N1 vaccine. The East African country was one of the 100 developing countries put on the WHO list that will receive the first batch of the vaccine; MF59-adjuvanted cell-culture based A (H1N1).
    kenya map
    The vaccine has recorded remarkable success in fighting the world’s latest epidemic, which has so far killed over 4,500 people world-wide.

    Currently, five drug manufacturing companies including GlaxoSmithkline which has a branch in Kenya are manufacturing the vaccine on patent. Others are AstraZeneca, MedImmune Unit, Novartis AG and Sanofi-Aventis.

    Early on Monday, the Kenyan Minister of Public health Beth Mugo called upon the international community to supply the country with the vaccine that has so far been used in China, the US and Australia among others with success. "We requested for the vaccine", She said. "We hope it will help us combat this epidemic," Mugo added.

    Speaking to Africa News in Nairobi, Mugo said that her ministry will first educate the populace before rolling out the vaccination programme.

    Since the first case of H1N1 was reported in Kenya in June, the flu has spread at a steady and rapid pace. Currently, over 120 cases have been confirmed, with 48 of the cases involving students. This has put the annual KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) exams in jeopardy, as most students are in isolation, meaning that the exams might not take place as usual.

    Currently, school visits and holidays have been banned as the government battles to combat the spread of the pandemic, which has been on the WHO alerts since it was first reported.

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