Resolve tetanus row

The stand-off between the Catholic Church and the Government over the tetanus, polio and measles vaccines is bad for the country. The arrest of a nun in Nakuru on suspicion of obstructing medics from giving a measles jab to children was an unfortunate low on the row between the church and the Government over the vaccines.

Yet this is not new. In 2014, the church claimed the jab was a conduit for birth control, which is against its doctrine. What remains unclear is why the government has failed to conclusively address the concerns raised by the church on the vaccines. Especially why it has seemingly gone ahead with the exercise without clearing the air on the findings from samples tested by independent chemists.

The State's adamant position and cases in Busia County last year where 27 children became paralysed after receiving jabs and reports that two children died in Kerio Valley after getting measles vaccination in September 2015 seems to vindicate the church's position. Yet these incidents could be isolated.

Even though a parliamentary committee investigated the tetanus vaccines and declared them safe, the church has maintained its stand. What the public needs to be assured of is the safety of the vaccinations.