Kenyans in Diaspora Share Their Experiences of Getting COVID-19 Vaccine
Kenyans in the diaspora have shared their opinions and experiences about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Some Kenyans living and working abroad said they have already taken the jab while those who are yet to be inoculated said they are planning to.
Peter Oluoch, a Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. student at UMass Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, says he received the requisite two shots of the vaccine after his school prioritized students.
Before the vaccine was administered to him, he was asked some questions such as his history of allergic responses to vaccines and pulmonary-related infections.
“I received the first jab on February 9th and the second dose on March 2nd. Though I expected some form of reaction, I did not witness any. My shoulder was numb after the jab and there was mild fatigue. Besides that, I was totally fine and did not take any sick day,” Oluoch told Nation.
The story is different for 26-year-old Christabel Mideva Eboso, who received her first Pfizer vaccine dose in the UK last week.
“I wasn’t supposed to get the vaccine because I don’t fall under the priority box but I got asthma attacks so my general practitioner booked me for vaccination,” says Christabel.
She adds: “They ask a couple of questions to verify you are a priority. I was asked which vaccine I wanted and chose Pfizer. They inject it in the arm.”
The Ph.D. law student, researcher, and teaching assistant at the University of Kent’s School of Law in Canterbury says she experienced some side effects of the vaccine, including headache, fever, and diarrhea.
“I started feeling very drowsy five minutes later. My head was heavy, but they had informed me about those side effects. At home, I took paracetamols as I was feeling weird and couldn’t sleep. In the night I had a severe bout of diarrhea, a bad headache, and a fever,” she adds.
The following day, she had a sore arm, headache, and was sneezing and shivering, which prompted her to use an electric heater and inbuilt house heaters to keep warm, On the third day, she was feeling better.
“I was nervous at first and didn’t want to take the vaccine but I just knew I had to get this done especially because the British weather and National Health Service (NHS) kept reminding me that an asthma attack may kill me before I get assistance.”
Nicholas Monday Aswani, a medic and tech entrepreneur living in the US raises questions about the efficacy of the jab and is not sure whether he will take it.
“To be honest, I am against taking that shot. If it were totally up to me, I wouldn’t. I am concerned it hasn’t been properly developed given the short duration of manufacture.”
He believes manufacturers rushed the vaccines due to anticipated monetary benefits.
“In total, five competing vaccines are available here, among them Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer, but the CDC recommends Pfizer and Moderna. This begs the question – what about the others?” he poses.
“I am worried I might be forced to take it just so I can travel – my favorite pastime activity. A few countries are already beating the drums for a Covid-19 passport so I might reluctantly get the shot for travel purposes,” he says.
Former IEBC commissioner Roselyn Akombe, who currently works at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP Africa), says she plans to be inoculated next week and would prefer Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
“I will keep you posted on how it goes. I should be getting it next week while in the US,” said Akombe, who is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Comments (13)
Machopi in diaspora wanapigua hii kitu, je wewe? What was the topic again?
Forget this vaccine guys. It has not been tested enough. Even effects on fertility. It's best to stay without it than to combat the side effects that can't be reversed .Even folks with vaccine are getting the COVID-19 twice etc .Don't ruin your body. Don't follow the masses tumia akili zako vyema. Angalia bele.
Ya kutibu Kaswende ndiyo imeTESTiwa. Right?😇
My friend hii kitu ni sumu ngoja miaka Katha wa Katha utasikia mambo .Ask yourself kids below 16 not taking why ? Coz the risk too high? So they are safer without it right?.Prezzo Anaweza Dungwa maji tu nawewe upatiwe original uende kufa na wale wenu. Why did Trump take in secret mostly he did not take the dawn vaccine? WHO is useless too focus na Maisha wachana na hii kitu ole wao .Ni bike tu it has not been tested on reproduction either maybe to control African population?.
Wow, what method did you use to test the potency of the covid19 vaccine!? You just running ndomo without facts! OST Kenyans act pretty damn most of the time! Wajuaji sana! If you could put everything you think you know together @ kaswende, you could make a whole damn plane!
Wow, what method did you use to test the potency of the covid19 vaccine!? You just running ndomo without facts! OST Kenyans act pretty damn most of the time! Wajuaji sana! If you could put everything you think you know together @ kaswende, you could make a whole damn aeroplane!
Covid19 has not yet been tested enough even after killing millions! Just keep waiting hoping against hope! Your grandpa will test it for you @kaswende; no wonder you have such a graphic name!
You will be just fine with covid19 as it eats your lungs away! Raila has already told you to go get vaccinated! Ignorance is no excuse! Good luck! .
Kenyan's be cautious!!
Let each one of us make his or her own decision. Do not take it just because someone gave you propaganda about how others are taking it.
Every Western nation has come up with a vaccine. Let's wait a few months to make sure the vaccine has prevention and protection capabilities.
Let's wait and see. It has been one year, and those countries that have the vaccine have not fully opened. Some are even starting to close down again?
Could Covid_19 be a plague that cannot be contained?
Patience is very important on this one especially in African countries!!
Instead of asking Kenyans to wait and see if the vaccine developed by westerners work, why not ask Kenyans to develop their own? As always, keyboard Kenyans, quick to criticize, zero alternatives or solutions. Bure kabisa!!!
@Sankaei, you have my full support on developing our own.
Thank you for your added comment!!!
I think I will believe the scientists before I believe any keyboard warriors wajuaji here on Mwakilishi. Most don't even read or do their own research but love conspiracy QNAN theories seeing boogie man in every corner and coming from Kenya, you got Polio Vaccine, mlikufa? Nonsense, leave those who want to get the jab do it as you wait for ten years long life effects
As a frontline healthcare worker who has actually cared for many COVID 19 patients, Vaccination for the majority of population a k a herd immunity is the only way we get back to a sense of post pandemic normalcy. I and my family have received both shots of the Moderna Vaccine after the second shot i felt the expected fever and chills kama malaria but by third day it cleared. i recommend taking this vaccine the benefits far out weigh the risks. Chances of complete recovery decline significantly if you need to be intubated and have to depend on a ventilator. With due respect to all the reasonable as well as bizarre concerns, it amazes me how gullible far too many are to conspiracies from folks who have taken the vaccine secretly .