Covid-19 has taken around 3.49 million lives. To some it’s just a number, to others it’s their loved ones, their family their friends. The vaccine is our only hope. One would think the vaccine would be something everyone would fight to get. In Kenya, this is not the case. Many healthcare workers refuse to take the vaccine. Naturally, the people of Kenya follow by example. In Kenya, the fear of the vaccine is a growing problem as the infection rate increases. The vaccine is a lifeline, not a weapon. 

   Kenya’s decrease in the number of healthcare workers is a problematic issue. A major factor contributing to the reduction of healthcare workers is that they do not have quality medical gear,   as the government cannot supply any better, causing many deaths. Think of the vaccine as medical gear. Healthcare workers are being offered high-quality gear but refuse, and take the low grade. The New York Times said, “They’re furious that they’ve been given faulty protective gear, or none at all. Hundreds of government health workers have fallen sick with the coronavirus” this goes on to show that faulty medical gear is a problem. A problem that healthcare workers try dealing with by going to the government rather than using the vaccine. With the vaccine, Kenya will have a fighting chance. 

 Healthcare workers are outraged towards Kenya’s decisions; The New York Times found, “in Homa Bay county, where for 18 days now, 64 doctors and more than 4,000 health workers have been on strike,” something that is a severe problem because not only is Kenya struggling with supplying enough healthcare, but is also struggling with workers on the field. As low-grade medical gear is a problem, medical workers fear the vaccine will cause as much or more harm than the virus itself. In March 2021, six healthcare workers took the vaccine publicly to boost confidence; we need to take action. If professionals fear the vaccine, so will the citizens. People are dying; the vaccine will end the suffering.

  The number of positive cases is overworking the concerning amount of healthcare workers. The government is well aware that the ongoing deaths of health workers are causing fewer lives being monitored and treated; The New York Times explains this with, “Union officials have also urged the government to hire 1,000 unemployed doctors to bridge shortages.?” Workers try to avoid jobs with cases because of fear of the virus. This causes there to be less support against covid-19. Tiffany Chance, a healthcare worker, said, “I’d pick a place that said they don’t have the virus, then I’d show up and they’d say, ‘Actually, some of these people have covid,’ ” if healthcare workers took the vaccine they would not fear the virus and could save more lives. Take note of the lack of vaccines in Kenya. It is also essential to understand, the chances of getting covid-19 are less than dying from blood clots. However, the chances of getting blood clots from the vaccine are 10,000 times less than getting covid.

   Healthcare workers in Kenya fear the vaccine for many reasons. Nairobi news mentions how “the fear of side effects, lack of knowledge, and the speed at which the vaccines were developed are among the factors fueling the hesitancy among health workers.” showing that speculation is a huge factor for hesitancy.

 After mentioning how 28% of healthcare workers refuse to take the vaccine, “the KMA president said, adding that most of the medics are concerned about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine,.” this gives reason to believe that new technology is a contributing factor to this fear and always has been. People fear the new and unknown, but this is too worried for such a well-tested and closely monitored technology. Kenya is struggling to withstand the overworked hospitals, and the lack of healthcare workers isn’t helping. One healthcare worker could save hundreds, remove one, all those people become lost. It is outrageous that healthcare workers don’t take the vaccine but are angry when given bad medical gear! When a professional fear’s a solution, it’s only natural to question them. The vaccine will solve so much, I am greatly concerned because a professional questions a well-tested and massively needed solution.