Aga Khan University Hospital resumes COVID-19 vaccination

Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi has resumed COVID-19 vaccination for priority groups after receiving more doses of AstaZeneca from the government.

A statement from the facility said the vaccinations are free for the following priority groups: healthcare workers, teachers, security agencies, clergy and persons over 58 years.

“Aga Khan University Hospital is an appointed vaccination centre supporting the Ministry of Health vaccinate priority groups. This is a free cost of service to eligible groups as per the Ministry of Health guidelines,” a statement from the hospital reads.

The vaccination exercise is limited to 400 people per day.

The process begins with registration at the Aga Khan Primary School on 5th Parklands Avenue at 6am.

Those seeking to be vaccinated are required to produce their national identification document, staff ID or letter from employer.

The exercise will however not be conducted over the Easter period.

We are facilitating the Covid-19 vaccination for eligible persons under the free government program. Leonard Mbugua took the jab earlier today and shares his experience. pic.twitter.com/VbS95W3Xpk

— Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (@AKUHNairobi) March 29, 2021

Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine – Frequently Asked Questions​

How many doses should one take?

Two doses 4-12 weeks apart are administered. In Kenya, the doses shall be 8 weeks apart.

What are the side effects of the vaccine?

Injection site tenderness (>60%); injection site pain, headache, fatigue (>50%); myalgia, malaise (>40%); pyrexia, chills (>30%); and arthralgia, nausea (>20%). The majority of adverse reactions were mild to moderate in severity and usually resolved within one to two days of vaccination. By day 7 the incidence of subjects with at least one local or systemic reaction was 4% and 13%, respectively. When compared with the first dose, adverse reactions reported after the second dose were milder and reported less frequently.

How do I obtain help if I got side effects?

Within 15 minutes of vaccination, there is a doctor to provide care at the vaccination center. Beyond 15 minutes (and after leaving the vaccination center) please obtain care at the Accident and Emergency department.

Should I get vaccinated if I have already had COVID-19?

Yes, you should get vaccinated against COVID-19 even if you have already had the disease. However, if you are currently infected, you must wait for your symptoms to resolve, your isolation period to end and if you were prescribed steroids, these must also have ended. This applies to either of the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

What is the efficacy of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine?

In the different clinical trials conducted, this vaccine has been shown to protect against symptomatic infections with an efficacy ranging between 60% and 90%. According to an analysis published in The Lancet, this difference may be due to the interval between both doses: a longer interval (12 weeks) protects better (above 80%) than an interval below 6 weeks (under 60%).

To date, no hospitalizations or deaths have been registered among people who received both doses of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine in clinical trials.

Additional information from the Aga Khan University Hospital website