The government has launched an urgent initiative to trace and immunize thousands of children who missed critical vaccines due to shortages in Kisumu and Vihiga counties. This effort follows a severe vaccine crisis late last year, which left many infants unprotected against life-threatening diseases.
A significant number of newborns in these counties did not receive essential vaccines such as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for tuberculosis, the malaria vaccine given at six months, and the first and second doses of the polio vaccine, administered at two and four months. Parents faced frustration as they traveled from one facility to another in search of the vaccines, only to find empty stocks.
Now, the national and county governments, in collaboration with PATH and other partners, are working swiftly to locate approximately 30,000 infants who missed these vaccinations. With new vaccine supplies received three weeks ago, health officials are using a last-mile model to track defaulters and ensure they receive the necessary doses.
Health facilities have adopted a hybrid system to trace parents and caregivers, creating a database of new births and those who have already been vaccinated. Community Health Promoters (CHPs) play a crucial role in this initiative, reaching out to defaulters through phone calls and personal visits.
Mothers who had previously struggled to secure vaccines for their children expressed relief. Some, however, remain concerned about whether the vaccine supply will be sustained in the long term. Many health facilities are witnessing long lines of parents eager to vaccinate their children.
Health officials acknowledge the dangers of delayed vaccination. The nursing officer in charge of vaccinations in Kisumu stated that about 4,000 defaulters are being traced, while in Vihiga, where 19,000 infants are on the vaccination list, efforts are underway to locate 7,000 children who missed their doses. The county has restocked 23,000 doses of BCG and Rubella vaccines and has supplies of oral polio (OPV), IPV, pentavalent, PCV-10, rotavirus, malaria, measles, and rubella vaccines.
Dubbed the “Big Catchup,” the initiative focuses on mapping out all infants who missed their vaccines and mobilizing caregivers to bring them to health facilities. The strategy also targets girls aged 10-14 for the HPV vaccine.
Smaller health centers are redistributing vaccines to those running low to ensure continued availability. However, some facilities report that stocks are already depleting quickly due to high demand.
Despite the progress, concerns remain about future vaccine availability, especially following the recent pause in US government aid. The US, through USAID and PEPFAR, has been instrumental in supporting Kenya’s healthcare sector, including malaria treatment, vaccine distribution, and healthcare worker training. Experts fear that a prolonged funding gap could lead to recurring vaccine shortages, posing a significant risk to infant health.
For now, health officials urge all caregivers and parents with children aged 0-59 months to visit the nearest health facilities and ensure their children receive the necessary vaccinations.
