FIVE Million Children’s Vaccine Doses Acquired By MOH After Uproar
The Ministry of Health has budgeted Ksh.1.25 billion to purchase routine childhood immunizations following a shortfall in certain parts of the country.
The government has advised caregivers to take their children to health institutions for immunization because vaccine supplies are now available.
BCG, Oral Polio, Tetanus-Diphtheria, and Measles-Rubella vaccines have all reached critical lows.
The Ministry announced on Wednesday that it had received 1,209,500 doses of Measles Rubella, 3,032,000 doses of Oral Polio Vaccine, 1,000,000 doses of Tetanus-diphtheria, and 3,129,000 doses of BCG vaccinations.
The vaccines are currently being packaged and distributed to nine vaccine stores across the country.
To speed up the procedure, the government has assigned refrigerated vehicles to ensure that lifesaving vaccines reach the necessary health facilities on time.
Ministry of Health receives new supply of vaccines to address shortage https://t.co/aNwAHYGfJH via @KBC
— Ministry of Health (@MOH_Kenya) June 5, 2024
“We call on our health workers to collaborate with community health teams to ensure all children who missed vaccinations return to the facilities and catch up on their immunisation schedule,” read the report.
In April, when the country began registering shortages, around 15,000 fewer youngsters were vaccinated.
The government vowed to continue working with the National Treasury to ensure additional and dedicated resources are allocated to the immunisation program, ensuring timely vaccination processes throughout the country.
“To achieve this, the ministry is exploring innovative options for sustainable financing of vaccine procurement and program operations to prevent future stock out,” said MoH
At least 1.6 million infants, pregnant mothers, and 750,000 girls under the age of ten may have missed vital vaccinations.
This is because the government failed to pay a Ksh.2 billion debt to a foreign supplier, resulting in a year-long supply gap.
The shortage was caused by payment delays and budget cuts for the procurement and distribution of routine vaccines.
FIVE Million Children’s Vaccine Doses Acquired By MOH After Uproar
