MoH receives 6.2M doses of Polio, BCG vaccines after months-long shortage

Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, officially received the consignment on Wednesday, June 11, which included 3.2 million doses of oral polio vaccine and 3 million doses of BCG vaccination. 

PS Oluga was accompanied by Dr. Bashir Issak, Director of Family Health, and Dr. Rose Jalango, Head of the National Vaccines and Immunization Programme (NVIP), as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization.

The vaccines will be distributed immediately to the country's nine central depots on June 12, followed by delivery to health facilities in all 47 counties.

“We have had some serious challenges with children’s vaccines in the country, especially oral polio and BCG,” said Dr. Oluga. “Twelve counties had completely run out of vaccines, and 35 others were left with stocks lasting less than 10 days. Some mothers have been turned away from facilities for as long as three months.”

The shortage resulted from delays in the National Treasury's disbursement of co-financing payments to global vaccine partners Gavi and UNICEF.

This financial bottleneck, which halted procurement, exposed thousands of newborns to the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that the Treasury has since released the Ksh.900 million co-payment to UNICEF, allowing for the urgent replenishment of stock. “UNICEF confirmed to me in writing that the vaccines would arrive by June 15. 

The delay was due to our late exchequer release, but the money has now been sent, and we’re back on track,” said Duale.

The shortage had sparked concern among health professionals and public health advocates, with experts warning that it risked reversing years of progress in child survival and disease prevention. An estimated 80,000 children missed out on critical vaccines during the shortage.

To address the gap, the Ministry of Health plans to launch a national catch-up vaccination campaign. “Beginning June 15, mothers can now take their children to health facilities for the missed vaccines,” Dr. Oluga announced. 

“All children born in the last three months and who left hospitals without vaccination will be traced and fully immunized.”

The consignment's arrival also marks a milestone in the government's efforts to streamline health commodity supply chains.