CS Kagwe asks teachers to get Covid vaccination

Teachers have been urged to go for Covid-19 vaccines following fears that schools may be susceptible to the virus.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe yesterday said there are enough vaccines for teachers across the country, including the support staff.

“There is no shortage of vaccines for teachers and other school workers. Learning institutions will be safe as long as teachers are vaccinated,” said Kagwe.

The CS said it is necessary for teachers to take the jab to curb the spread of infections in learning institutions. Experts say many children are asymptomatic.

He was responding to concerns that infections were being reported in some schools.

“We are witnessing increased infections in schools but in spite of that, it is not a panic situation since we have put in place effective measures,” said Kagwe.

He stressed the need to exercise individual responsibility, reminding people to avoid political rallies and funerals, which he termed as super spreading avenues.

Kagwe spoke in the company of his Tanzanian counterpart Dorothy Gwajima, who is in the country on a Covid-19 fact-finding mission.

The two countries are exploring areas of collaboration in curbing the spread of the virus. Among the issues the two ministers discussed before holding the press conference were cross-border transportation, Covid-19 testing and validation systems.

Their meeting, said Kagwe, was a follow up to the one held by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Tanzania leader Suluhu Hassan.

Dr Gwajima said Tanzania was slowly abandoning unconventional methods of fighting the virus and embracing science, which was initially doubted by former president, the late John Magufuli.

Through a national campaign, people were encouraged to inhale steam infused with herbs, drink lots of water, eat fruits and vegetables.

Gwajima said the steam therapy worked as it saved many lives, including hers after she got infected with the virus.

“I am a living testimony of how our traditional approach saved Tanzanians,” she said.