Fear As Government Warns of Disease Outbreaks Over Vaccine Outage
Kenyans have been warned about probable illness outbreaks after the government declared a statewide shortage of vaccines in hospitals.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, while most vaccination stocks have already been depleted, the remaining stock may only last two to three months.
Critical vaccines that have run out include Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), Oral Polio, and Measles-Rubella.
Meanwhile, stockpiles of regular kid immunizations such as pneumococcal, Rotavirus, HPV, and Malaria could only last three months.
According to the Ministry of Health, stockouts might put the country in danger of vaccine-preventable diseases and epidemics.
However, the Ministry stated that it had implemented severe steps to ensure a consistent supply of vaccines to all hospitals across the country.
“Recognizing that immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions, we are committed to ensuring a consistent and uninterrupted supply of vaccines,” the Ministry announced.
“Kenya has benefited from a robust immunization system for over 44 years, and we are dedicated to ensuring future generations enjoy full and healthy lives.”
As part of its efforts to mitigate the outage, the Ministry claimed that it has begun to facilitate redistribution between counties.
“The National Vaccines and Immunization Program (NVIP) is redistributing current stocks of available routine vaccines across the country to ensure eligible children do not miss vaccinations,” the Ministry of Health stated.
Ksh1.2 billion has also been set aside to urgently obtain regular antigens and replace vaccination stocks in all hospitals.
According to the Health Ministry, the new vaccination stock is expected to arrive in the country by the first week of June 2024.
“We urge all caregivers to liaise closely with their healthcare providers and bring their children back to the facilities once stock levels have normalized.”
Fear As Government Warns of Disease Outbreaks Over Vaccine Outage
