The Ministry of Health has acknowledged a shortage of vaccines for newborns, particularly the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, which is essential for protecting infants from tuberculosis. The shortage was caused by delays in the approval of revenue collection documents, which in turn delayed payments to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF, in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), is the primary supplier of most children’s vaccines. This disruption in the payment process had a significant impact on the vaccine supply chain.
The Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, explained that when the ministry placed orders with UNICEF, the necessary financial resources were not approved in time, leading to delays in the procurement of vaccines. As a result, the supply of BCG vaccines was affected, leaving a gap in the vaccination program for newborns. However, the National Treasury has since addressed the financial delays, and the first batch of 2,340,000 BCG vaccine doses is expected to arrive by the end of the month.
Dr. Amoth reassured the public that the government is taking measures to ensure that those most in need of the vaccine will be prioritized once the supplies are received. The Ministry of Health has already begun redistributing vaccines from areas with low utilization to high-demand health facilities, ensuring that the most vulnerable children are vaccinated as soon as possible. Additionally, the ministry is keeping a record of children who have missed their vaccinations, so they can receive the vaccine when supplies are replenished.
To mitigate the immediate impact of the shortage, county health officials have been instructed to maintain lists of children who require catch-up immunizations. This will ensure that no child misses out on critical vaccines and that they are vaccinated promptly once the vaccines are available. This proactive approach is designed to minimize the long-term consequences of the shortage and maintain the country’s immunization coverage.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Deborah Barasa, emphasized that the ministry is committed to preventing such disruptions in the future. The government is taking steps to address the root causes of the delays and to improve the vaccine procurement and supply system. One of the key reforms being pursued is strengthening partnerships with international organizations like UNICEF and Gavi, which play a crucial role in ensuring the availability of vaccines. These partnerships will help to streamline the vaccine supply chain and prevent future shortages.
In addition to these partnerships, the Ministry of Health is working towards achieving Kenya’s ML3 manufacturing status, which would enable the country to produce vaccines locally. This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce dependency on external suppliers and to ensure a more reliable and sustainable vaccine supply. By boosting local production, Kenya hopes to safeguard against future disruptions in the global vaccine supply chain and enhance its ability to respond to public health challenges.
The government’s focus on strengthening the vaccine procurement process, coupled with efforts to increase local production, aims to create a more resilient healthcare system. This will ensure that all children in Kenya receive timely vaccinations and that the country can better manage its public health needs in the future.
