The Ministry of Health has allocated Ksh1.25 billion for the procurement of children’s vaccines to address shortages in the country.
In a letter undersigned by Harry Kimtai, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Medical Services, the government emphasized the need to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases. The ministry urgently procured routine childhood vaccines that were critically low in their stores. “The Ministry of Health has allocated Kshs 1.25 billion to urgently procure routine childhood vaccines, including BCG, Oral Polio, Tetanus-Diphtheria, and Measles Rubella, which had reached critically low levels in the country,” the statement read.
Kimtai confirmed the receipt of over 8 million doses of various vaccines to be distributed nationwide, including 1,209,500 doses of Measles Rubella vaccines, 3,032,000 doses of Oral Polio Vaccines (bOPV), 1,000,000 doses of Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccines, and 3,129,000 doses of BCG vaccines. To expedite delivery, the Ministry of Health deployed additional refrigerated trucks to ensure these lifesaving vaccines reach health facilities and communities by the second week of June 2024.
Healthcare workers were urged to collaborate with community health teams to ensure all children who missed vaccinations return to the facilities to catch up on their immunization schedule. Caregivers were also encouraged to take their children for immunizations, as the vaccine supply has now stabilized.
To address the vaccine shortage crisis sustainably, the ministry is exploring innovative financing options for vaccine procurement and program operations. “We will continue engaging the National Treasury to ensure increased and dedicated resources are allocated to the immunization program, ensuring stable vaccine supplies. Ring-fencing domestic resources will guarantee sustainable financing for immunization and universal access to vaccines, aligning with our efforts in Primary Health Care,” Kimtai stated.
The swift intervention of the State Department of Medical Services, the National Vaccines and Immunization Program, and UNICEF’s supplies division was praised for their rapid distribution of vaccines.
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