NAIROBI, Kenya

When Kenya rolls out its Johnson and Johnson coronavirus vaccine distribution it will be free of charge, the Health Ministry said Thursday.

Officials made the announcement in response to media reports about fake Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 jabs that said authorities were holding two suspects who were impersonating health officials and were administering the phony shots.

The suspects were said to be charging Kenyans to get the vaccine.

“Following media reports on the alleged administration of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, the Ministry of Health would like to urge Kenyans not to get lured into paying for a COVID-19 vaccine, all vaccines provided by the government of Kenya are free of charge,” the Health Ministry said in the statement.

“The Ministry also wishes to confirm that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine has never been deployed,” it said.

“As the government of Kenya ventures into multiple vaccine deployment, we request the public to remain vigilant.”

Kenya received its first batch of 141,600 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine on Sept. 4.

A total of 501 people tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, taking the number of cases in Kenya to 242,284, according to officials.

The death toll rose to 4,864 as 34 more patients have died.