According to the GoK, in order for you to get vaccinated, especially in Kenya, it’s mandatory that your visit the Covid-19 Registry webpage (here) to get started. But first, many have been asking us and through online sources a few questions. For instance, are there any side effects from the Covid-19 Vaccine?
Well, to answer that particular question, like any other vaccine, COVID-19 vaccines can either cause mild or short-term side effects. Such as a low-grade fever or pain or redness at the injection site. But, most vaccine reactions are mild and go away within a few days on their own. Though rare, more serious or long-lasting side effects to vaccines are possible.
Likewise, cases of myocarditis and pericarditis in adolescents and young adults have been reported more often too. Especially, after getting the second dose than after the first dose of one of the two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. But, these reports are extremely rare.
What’s More, You Need To Know
In nutshell, the known and potential benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks. Including the possible risk of myocarditis or pericarditis. There are strict protections in place to help ensure the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines.
Before receiving validation from WHO and national regulatory agencies, COVID-19 vaccines must undergo rigorous testing in clinical trials to prove that they meet internationally agreed benchmarks for safety and efficacy.
Consider the following facts:
- Most if not all COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
- You may have side effects after vaccination, but these are normal.
- If you are not vaccinated, find a vaccine. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
- If fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic.
That said, you can read and learn more about what you can do when you have been fully vaccinated in detail. So, the other question is, how do these vaccines work? Well, to understand how COVID-19 vaccines work, it helps to first look at how our bodies fight illness.
The first time a person is infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, it can take several days or weeks for their body to make and use all the germ-fighting tools needed to get over the infection. After the infection, the person’s immune system remembers what it learned about how to protect the body against that disease.
Below is an exclusives video on how COVID-19 vaccines work:
Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection. But, with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes. As well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.
Types of COVID-19 Vaccines
Currently, there are three main types of COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized and recommended or undergoing large-scale (Phase 3) clinical trials in the United States. Below is a description of how each type of vaccine prompts our bodies to recognize and protect us from the virus that causes COVID-19. None of these vaccines can give you COVID-19.
mRNA Vaccines:
These vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future.
Protein Subunit Vaccines:
They include harmless pieces (proteins) of the virus that causes COVID-19 instead of the entire germ. Once vaccinated, our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build T-lymphocytes and antibodies that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future.
Vector Vaccines
The Vector Vaccines contain a modified version of a different virus than the one that causes COVID-19. Inside the shell of the modified virus, there is material from the virus that causes COVID-19. This is called a “viral vector.” Once the viral vector is inside our cells, the genetic material gives cells instructions to make a protein that is unique to the virus that causes COVID-19. Using these instructions, our cells make copies of the protein. This prompts our bodies to build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus if we are infected in the future.
Some COVID-19 Vaccines Require More Than One Shot
For a full vaccination, you’ll need two shots of some COVID-19 vaccines.
(a). Two-Shots: If you get a COVID-19 vaccine that requires two shots, you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second shot. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines require two shots.
(b). One-Shot: If you get a COVID-19 vaccine that requires one shot, you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your shot. Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine only requires one shot.
If it has been less than two weeks since your shot, or if you still need to get your second shot, you are NOT fully protected. Keep taking steps to protect yourself and others until you are fully vaccinated (2 weeks after the final).
Typically, it takes a few weeks after vaccination for the body to produce T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes. Sometimes, after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are signs that the body is building immunity.
How Online Covid-19 Registry Works
As I mentioned, the Kenya Covid-19 Registry (Chanjo KE) is a self-service portal that allows you to access free vaccination services in Kenya online — all related to Covid-19. After successful registration, you’ll be able to access your account details with everything you’ll need. That’s in regards to your Covid-19 vaccination process.
Basically, at this point, your identification cards are very important. Therefore, ensure you enter the right details. Also, ensure that you fill in the correct contact details. Let’s now see how to create your account successfully.
Step 1: How to Access Your Covid-19 Registry
- First, open your web browser on mobile or desktop (e.g. Google, Bing, or Yandex)
- Secondly, type in Covid-19 Registry (or visit https://portal.health.go.ke/register)
- After that, you’ll see an online registration form prompt on your device screen
- In the vaccination question field, tick No if you’re new or Yes to access your existing account
- Select Identification Type (National ID or Passport or Alien ID, etc)*
- Enter your Identification Number corresponding to your Identification Type * above
- Enter your Email Address * followed by your Country Code *
- Lastly, enter your Phone Number * and then create your Password *
NB: The marked fields (*) indicates mandatory information for you to fill in. Make sure that you fill them carefully and correctly as they will reflect on the Trusted Travel – Africa CDC web platform. (We’ll look more into that below). After completing the first steps indicated above, below are the next steps to follow.
Step 2: How to Activate Your Covid-19 Registry
- Click on the ‘Submit‘ button after creating your unique Password *
- Forthwith, you’ll be prompted with a new asking you to ‘Activate‘ your Chanjo KE account
- Hereby, you’ll fill in your Profile Details *
- Select your Location of Residence * i.e where you live.
- After that, enter your Next of Kin Details * (i.e. spouse, mother, father, etc).
- Mostly, their First Name and Mobile Number (the rest is not mandatory)
- Select the Allergies/Preexisting Conditions that you have.
- If they are not on the list, you can fill them in using the other allergies/conditions option.
- Confirm your details then click on the Submit button to complete your registration.
That’s it! All you’ll need now is to visit your nearest Covid-19 Vaccination Centers in Kenya to get your first vaccine jab (download full list). And once there, this is the information your need to produce to the medical technicians attending you. In most cases, they’ll just need your ID (the one you used to register) in order to confirm your details.
Keeping in mind, you can either use your National ID, PassPort ID, Drivers Licence, etc. Eventually, you’ll see a welcome note and a date indication of your next visit. And then, you’ll now be able to take your first vaccination jab!
The Kenya Covid-19 Vaccination Portal Allows You To:
- Register For Covid-19 Vaccination: You can register for vaccination and select your preferred facility for vaccination.
- View Your Covid-19 Vaccination Schedule: Once you get your first dose, you will be able to view the date for your next vaccination.
- Download Your Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate: Once vaccinated, you can download and scan your Vaccination Certificate.
- View Your Covid-19 Registration Information: The Portal allows you to view details such as date of birth, identification information, and contact information.
- Update your Covid-19 Registration information: The Portal allows you to add more identification information.
- Verify Your Kenya Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate: To verify your Kenya Covid-19 Certificate, scan the QR code provided on the certificate.
That’s all. It’s as simple as that! And now, having said that, if you are not vaccinated yet, you can just click here to register in order to open the registration form. And then, make sure sure that you follow up on all the key steps until the end.
Final Thoughts,
It’s important to realize, the main aim of the Online Covid-19 Registry exercise is to enable a smooth digital verification of Covid-19 certificates. This is in part due to a combined effort between The Ministry of Health (Kenya) and others.
They include and are not limited to Africa CDC and African Union — with the technical support of panaBIOS and Afro Champions Initiative. Their main mission is to create and implement an online trustworthy and safe system. Especially, for travelers moving to and fro Africa through the deployment of ‘Trusted Travel’ technology.
Ultimately, this will strengthen the involved countries with the ability to verify, authenticate and validate all test results and vaccination certificates. In particular, for diseases of International public health concerns such as Coronavirus. All this will be made possible Using Global Haven Test Results Uploader for all travelers.
Related: Coronavirus | Main Causes, Symptoms, Risks & Treatment
To enumerate, the Hardcopy Test Results Uploader is a special feature built-in TrustedTravel to enable travelers to directly upload their Test Certificates to the system. This feature helps a traveler with hardcopy test results generate a TC Code with ease. Using computer vision algorithms, the system is able to progressively eliminate fakes and forgeries.
Finally, have you taken your first or even your second (complete) Covid-19 vaccination shot? If not, what is holding you back? And if yes, what was/is your overall experience? Did you encounter any notable side effects that you’d like to share with us? Well, we’d like to hear some of them in our comments section below.
By the same token, you can also share your other additional opinion thoughts, suggestions, contributions, recommendations, or even questions related to Covid-19 Registry with us. Not to mention, for even more support, you can also Contact Us and let us know how we can help you. You can also send your queries to [email protected].
