By Betty Luke
Officials have raised concern over the low uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine by primary school teachers in Isiolo as the disease continues to wreak havoc across the world.
Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) Isiolo Chair Abdullahi Rashid said only 15 out of 1500 teachers had been vaccinated.
The Wabera Primary School Headteacher said he earlier had some reservations with the vaccine over the blood clot claims that saw the AstraZeneca vaccine banned in several countries but got assurance after President Uhuru Kenyatta and his cabinet were vaccinated.
Majority of the teachers who have boycotted the inoculation, he said, had before the closure of schools insisted that they would not be vaccinated.
Three teachers have so far tested positive for Covid-19 in the county.
Speaking after receiving the jab at Isiolo Referral Hospital, Mr Rashid appealed to teachers to come out and be vaccinated saying like health workers, they were at higher risk of contracting the disease due to the nature of their work.
“I am asking all the teachers to go for the vaccine so that we keep the disease at bay,” he appealed.
“I was among those who had reservations earlier but after the President took the jab, I was confident that it was safe,” Mr Rashid said while lauding the Head of State for offering leadership in the vaccination exercise.
While rubbishing the side effects claims, Mr Rashid told journalists “I have just been vaccinated and as you can see I am okay (while standing in front of you)”
Like teachers, health care workers have been reluctant to be vaccinated with the majority of those turning up for the jab being those aged 58 years and above.
