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Nairobi, Kenya – The Ministry of Health has announced the arrival of a new supply of children’s vaccines following a severe shortage that impacted numerous health facilities across the country.
In an official statement, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Harry Kimtai, confirmed the receipt of several crucial vaccines for children. The Ministry has obtained 1,209,500 doses of the Measles-Rubella vaccine, 3,032,000 doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV), 1,000,000 doses of the Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccine, and 3,129,000 doses of the BCG vaccine.
“We are pleased to announce the receipt of the following vaccines: 1,209,500 doses of Measles-Rubella vaccine, 3,032,000 doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV), 1,000,000 doses of Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccine, and 3,129,000 doses of BCG vaccine,” stated Kimtai.
The PS highlighted that the newly arrived vaccines are being processed for rapid distribution to the nine regional vaccine stores nationwide. This initiative is part of the Ministry’s commitment to addressing the recent vaccine shortage urgently and effectively.
To facilitate the swift and safe transportation of these vaccines, the Ministry of Health has deployed additional refrigerated trucks. The aim is to ensure that health facilities and communities receive the vaccines by the second week of June, thereby minimizing any further delay in the immunization of children.
Kimtai called upon healthcare workers to work closely with community health teams to ensure that children who missed their vaccinations due to the shortage are brought back to the health facilities to catch up on their immunization schedules.
“We also urge all caregivers to bring their children back to the facilities for immunization as the vaccine supply has now normalized in the country,” Kimtai emphasized.
In addressing future vaccine supply issues, the PS mentioned that the Ministry is exploring innovative financing options for sustainable vaccine procurement and program operations. This includes ongoing engagements with the National Treasury to secure increased and dedicated resources for the immunization program, aiming to prevent any future stockouts.
“We will continue engaging the National Treasury to ensure increased and dedicated resources are allocated to the immunization program, ensuring stable vaccine supplies,” assured Kimtai.
The recent shortage had raised significant concern among health professionals and caregivers, highlighting the critical importance of maintaining a steady supply of vaccines to safeguard the health and well-being of children across the country.
