The Ministry of Health has confirmed that Kenya is currently experiencing a significant shortage of essential vaccines, with immunisation efforts facing disruptions in multiple counties. According to health officials, 12 of the country’s 47 counties have completely depleted their vaccine stocks, raising concern over the impact on public health, particularly among children.
The affected vaccines include the tuberculosis (BCG) and polio vaccines, with current national stocks projected to last only two more weeks. The rotavirus vaccine, which prevents severe diarrhoeal disease in infants and young children, has a supply that may stretch for just one more month. These shortages have been attributed to global supply chain bottlenecks that are affecting multiple countries.
Despite the severity of the situation, the Ministry has assured the public that mitigation measures are underway. As part of the national response, the government is implementing a strategy known as the Zero-Dose Catch-Up Mechanism. This initiative, established under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), is designed to ensure that no child is left behind in receiving lifesaving vaccines, even in the face of temporary supply constraints.
Efforts are also being made to redistribute existing vaccine supplies from better-stocked areas to counties that have run out. This redistribution process is being coordinated with county governments to ensure an equitable and efficient response. Health officials expressed appreciation for the cooperation of local governments and health facilities during this challenging period.
To further stabilise the situation, approximately 3.2 million doses of the polio vaccine are expected to be cleared at the port and distributed across the country by June 10. In addition, three million doses of the BCG vaccine are scheduled to arrive and be dispatched by June 15. These incoming supplies are expected to ease the current shortages and restore routine immunisation activities nationwide.
Beyond immediate relief, the Ministry is working on long-term strategies to prevent future disruptions. One of the key interventions is the establishment of a Strategic Vaccine Reserve in all 47 counties. This reserve will serve as a buffer against future shortages and will be sustainably financed and efficiently managed to ensure consistent availability of vaccines, even during periods of global supply instability.
The BCG vaccine is crucial in protecting against tuberculosis, a potentially deadly disease that continues to affect many people globally. Meanwhile, the oral and inactivated polio vaccines are essential components of global efforts to eliminate poliomyelitis, a disease that can cause lifelong paralysis and even death. Ensuring the availability of these vaccines is therefore critical not only for individual health but also for national and global public health goals.
Kenya has traditionally maintained high immunisation coverage, contributing significantly to improved child health and reduced mortality. However, the recent stockouts pose a serious threat to these gains, potentially exposing vulnerable populations to preventable diseases. The Ministry’s swift and multi-pronged response aims to safeguard these achievements and prevent any reversal of progress.
With the anticipated arrival of new vaccine shipments and the implementation of both short- and long-term interventions, immunisation services are expected to stabilise in the coming weeks. The Ministry remains committed to protecting the health of all citizens and ensuring that all children, regardless of where they live, have access to the vaccines they need.
