Church bid to scuttle vaccination is dangerous

The Catholic Church is a major player in Kenya’s health system, with an extensive network of health facilities that include 58 hospitals, 83 health centres, 311 dispensaries and 17 medical training institutions. For this reason it cannot be ignored in matters health.

Last year, the Church caused a storm when it opposed a tetanus vaccine campaign backed by the government, the World Health Organisation, and UNICEF claiming the vaccine could cause sterility in women.