Kenyan-born doctor Stella Biyaki Ogake was among the first recipients of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in the US.
On Monday, the US government began the rollout of the vaccine to frontline healthcare workers across the 50 states.
Dr. Ogake was vaccinated at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre where she works as a pulmonologist and professor.
“I feel great. I just got the vaccine, it was not painful at all. I do not know how I am going to feel in the next few hours, but I feel good,” Ogake told CNN in an interview.
She added: “I would say that this is a very exciting moment. It is very surreal as well, but for us who are in the frontlines taking care of these patients, it is such a moment of hope because we can see the light. We can see the end of this pandemic. It is the beginning of the end.”
Ogake graduated with a degree in medicine from Moi University in 2008 and briefly worked at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi before moving to the US in 2012.
“Just seeing patients in the hospital and seeing what they go through, my biggest fear is getting it myself or taking it home to my son or my husband, or my other family members,” she said.
In a separate interview, Ogake who mainly works in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) said working during the pandemic has been overwhelming.
“I like to work in the ICU, I like spending time in the ICU, but with Covid-19 it becomes very overwhelming, with all the number of patients we see and the fact that we see these really sick people, worrying that we are going to take it home to our families,” Ogake said.
The US has so far recorded nearly 17 million Covid-19 cases and over 300,000 deaths, making it the hardest-hit country in the world.
The US government prioritized healthcare workers at the highest risk of contracting Covid-19 in the roll-out of the vaccine.
Studies have shown that the Pfizer vaccine is 95 percent effective in protecting against Covid-19 infections.
What’s the news here? She is…
What’s the news here? She is a frontline worker irrespective f where she was born.
Wacha wivu…yes jealous is…
Wacha wivu…yes jealous is killing you…yes she is a pulmonologist in United States of America…yes working in icu…if you know you….infact I think she is an intensivists…..yes she is…who are you …idiot!
Machungu ya nini? @kithoi…
Machungu ya nini? @kithoi did not say she is not a doctor. Simple getting a jab is not news worth.
You and kithoi are jealous…
You and kithoi are jealous twins! Why? She is a doctor and very pretty! Meza wembe and do your thing!
What an ass using our…
What an ass using our beautiful country’s name to say nothing. Go get your Covid19 jab and shut your dirty mouth. It is not your decision who gets the jab or not.
Your feelings seems quite hurt that Dr Ogake receive the vaccination! Stop insulting Kenya!!
Are you working in the front…
Are you working in the front lines yourself @kithoi? You ain’t in the front lines in your small brains either! Gweeeee! Shut up!
She just happened to get the…
She just happened to get the vaccine shot before you so she can help save your life! So don’t be jealous your turn is soon coming.
Your negative attitude is very common among black people; especially Africans. No wonder you guys never make much progress because you seem to see life on the wild side like an aimless donkey.
You are fighting the doctor over something you won’t have received anyway. Is saying congratulations to Dr Ngake too painful for you @kithoi?? Evidently you are quite pained she received the vaccine ahead of you!
Gheez, can you try to change your state of mind to appreciate something positive? I guess your warped mind is still in the gutter! Isn’t it?? Here is a shilling for you to call someone who cares to listen to you nonsense! Hell is just next door to you house! Just open the door fool!!
@kithoi – your myopic…
@kithoi – your myopic whining is tantamount to the cries of a hyena in the bush! Did the doctor need any permission/approval from you or your mother?? Shame on you!
Yanini Matusi @njoki I…
Yanini Matusi @njoki I expressed my opinion that her getting jabbed is not newsworthy coz she is not the only one who will get the shot.
Shashi! You still don’t get…
Shashi! You still don’t get it; do you!? @kithoi – Walsall! Glad what I said put a bit of sense in your small potatoe head!
Kithoi – Would you have…
Kithoi – Would you have congratulated Dr Ogake if she had chewed a bunch of Miraa, the toxic plant you grow in your Meru back yard? Yes, you would have done it!
So your tainted opinion about her taking the jab does not count! As a matter of fact what you are complaining about is ridiculously immaterial. You don’t have to get the jab! And good for you if you decide to get the jab!
Dr Ogake is now days into getting covid19 immunity while you are still whining here! Let others decide what is good for them. The jab did not go into your body. Get ? over it!
Someone told you earlier…
Someone told you earlier that you are just “ pontificating” here @kithoi about something you can’t undo.
Everything is said and done, and everything about the jab is totally out of the realm of your control because you will have to wait in line for a doctor to feel mercy on you to administer the jab.
Please, can you stop showing more of your ignorance by “pontificating” even more!? The train has already left the station!!
@kithoi – The good doctor is…
@kithoi – The good doctor is simply telling you (world) that she won’t ask you to do something she is not willing to do!
She took the jab and so can you! There is always a “first“ in everything! Find a good “first” you can do and the world will talk about it!
Please go get your jab when the time comes! It may give you an added time to live. It’s that serious kithoi!
All the reason Trump…
All the reason Trump referred to you @kithoi as a dude from a shithole country! Your way of thinking, reasoning and analyzing things is “shithole” indeed!!
Sorry Dr Biyaki beat you to…
Sorry Dr Biyaki beat you to the medical school while you were hopeless inebriated with Chagaa! The girl beat you, uuuuuh????
Your pontification about Dr…
Your pontification about Dr Ogake’s choices makes no sense; it is very lame!
God bless you and your…
God bless you and your family.
We diaspora Kenyans are proud of us and the work we do here, and elsewhere.
Why have you appropriated …
Why have you appropriated (stolen) my name?
? nice!!!
? nice!!!
Another guinea pig for…
Another guinea pig for mzungu experiment. This is what happen when your powerless and have to please authorities for brownie points every moment.
You will get your turn to be…
You will get your turn to be a Guinea pig (maybe a dog) too if you want to live! Your insecurities here do not make any sense! The doctor chose to take the jab and no one forced her to do so! She is way ahead of your ignorance and baby tads!
Innate fears about others …
Innate fears about others (mzungu) are the worst hindrance to your progress in life. You can do everything better than the mzungu. But you have to clean your insecure mind and take control of events/road blocks surrounding your success.
Mzungu has nothing to do with Dr Ogake receiving the covid19 vaccine! She is a woman of many firsts; you can see it in her beautiful smiling face.
She never sets mzungu limits in whatever she does!! As a matter of fact, she is very much in control of her environment; a winner in her own rights!!
Congrats. Not taking DNA…
Congrats. Not taking DNA manipulation chemicals.
Proud of you Dr.Ogake
Proud of you Dr.Ogake
Quite mature indeed!! That’s…
Quite mature indeed!! That’s how a real man responds!
I’m queuing, though at the…
I’m queuing, though at the back of the line.
Jealousy is alive and well…
Jealousy is alive and well. This accomplished Kenyan lady is making about $289,000 a year from doing critical life-saving work. Yet more proof that Kenyan universities are world-class.
Very true. Our universities…
Very true. Our universities are good enough but what we need is a positive change of mentality as Africans and Kenyans in particular.
Keep smiling Dr Ogake! Those…
Keep smiling Dr Ogake! Those talking dirty here are enemies without any powers. Don’t even look back; keep moving on, on, on, and oooon!!!
The Lord fights all your battles! And your smile is beautifully infectious! No wonder God put you exactly where you are right now! Amen.
Dr Ogake has demonstrated…
Dr Ogake has demonstrated that you can always count on her! Keep shining Doctor well knowing that others can count on you.
For sure, good doctors are always on the “front line” taking care of those who need them most. You are a truly good example for many to emulate and follow!