The Ministry of Health has announced the arrival of polio and Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine doses following a shortage in most health care facilities across the country.
In a statement released on Friday, June 6, Principal Secretary, State Department for Medical Services, Dr Ouma Oluga, said that the Ministry has started redistributing the available doses to facilities.
"The Ministry is actively redistributing available vaccine stocks in collaboration with the County Government to ensure equitable access to all Kenyans in all regions."
"We appreciate the ongoing cooperation of the County Government and health care facilities in managing this situation," the statement reads.
In the statement, it was noted that the BCG and Polio vaccines each have only two weeks of stock remaining, while the Rotavirus vaccine has about one month's supply left.
According to the ministry, the low vaccine stock levels resulted from a combination of factors and mainly the Global vaccine supply bottlenecks, which continue to impact several countries.
"The Ministry of Health remains committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of all Kenyans. In this regard, we acknowledge the challenges currently facing vaccine stock levels and immunisation efforts across the country," the statement reads.
Oluga confirmed that the ministry has received 3.2 million doses of Polio vaccine and will be cleared at the port for distribution by June 10, 2025. 3.0 million doses of the BCG vaccine are also expected at the port and will be distributed by June 15.
Rotavirus vaccine is an oval vaccine given to infants to protect against diarrhoea, while BCG is a vaccine used to prevent tuberculosis.
The ministry further revealed that 12 out of 47 counties have run out of vaccine stock.
To mitigate the crisis of vaccine shortages in the country, MOH is establishing a strategic vaccine reserve in all 47 counties through a programme that will be sustainably financed and efficiently operated.
The ministry reassured all Kenyans that no child will miss a single dose of any vaccine.
