Government to distribute 6.2 million vaccine doses amid national shortage

A team of healthcare workers vaccinating children in Ortum in West Pokot County in Kenya. [UNICEF/Translieu]

The Ministry of Health has announced plans to distribute 3.2 million doses of the polio vaccine and 3.0 million doses of the BCG vaccine to counties by 10 June and 15 June, respectively.

This is in a bid to address a nationwide vaccine shortage that has left 12 counties without stock.

According to a press statement issued on 6 June, the doses are currently being cleared at the port and will be immediately dispatched to counties upon release.

The Health Principal Secretary further revealed that the Ministry is establishing a strategic vaccine reserve to ensure all 47 counties have a sustainable and efficiently managed supply moving forward.

The move comes amid an ongoing shortage of critical vaccines, with the Ministry confirming that BCG and polio vaccines have only two weeks' stock remaining, while the rotavirus vaccine has about one month's supply left.

The shortage, attributed to "a combination of factors and mainly the global vaccine supply bottlenecks," continues to impact several countries.

"The Ministry is actively redistributing available vaccine stocks in collaboration with county governments to ensure equitable access to all Kenyans in all regions," said Dr Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services.

He further reassured the public that no child will be left behind:
"The Ministry reassures all Kenyans that no child will miss a single dose of any vaccine, thanks to the Zero-Dose Catch-Up Mechanism established and operational under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)."