By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
The Ministry of Health has officially received over 8 million doses of childhood vaccines it recently acquired.
A statement on the ministry’s social media pages indicate that Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimutai received the consignment on Thursday.
They were delivered at the Kitengela Central Vaccine Store in Kajiado County.
“This marks a significant step towards safeguarding the health of our children and ensuring a healthier future for all,” the Ministry of Health said.
The childhood routine vaccines, worth Kshs 1.25 billion, were procured by the Ministry of Health to address recent vaccine stockouts across the country.
“The replenished vaccines include Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), Oral Polio, Tetanus-Diphtheria, and Measles Rubella,” the ministry noted.
With the vaccines now in the country, they are set to be distributed to all the 9 regional vaccine centres nationally.
Meru, Nyeri and Nairobi regional centers are expected to received the vaccines on June 7, 2024 while Nakuru and Mombasa will receive on Monday, June 10, 2024.
Kisumu and Kakamega regional vaccine centres will receive their consignment on June 11, 2024 while Garissa and Eldoret will receive a day later.
“Let’s ensure our children’s health and future,” the Ministry said.
The vaccines have arrived in the country days after concerns were raised over their shortage nationally.
Vaccines keep children safe from serious diseases that can make them very sick, cause long-lasting problems, or even death.
For example, Hib can damage the brain or lead to death, polio can cause paralysis, and HPV can lead to cancer.
Some diseases, like measles and tetanus, which children get vaccinated against have no treatment or cure.
In Kenya, the Ministry of Health currently provides 14 vaccines and 5 non-EPI vaccines (Hepatitis B, Anti-snake venom, Anti-rabies, Yellow Fever and Typhoid vaccines).
