Kenya has received 2.3 million doses of BCG vaccine and seven million doses of measles-rubella jabs, replenishing the critical disease prevention supplies that were running out of stock thereby leaving children at risk of infections.

According to the Director-General Ministry of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, the vaccines will be distributed across the country to enhance protection against tuberculosis, measles, and rubella, especially among infants.

Across hospitals in Kenya, BCG vaccine has been out of stock for over a month. Dr. Amoth noted that the ministry will seek to address any challenges and maintain immunisation programmes.

He added that Nairobi County will receive the lion’s share with 450,000 doses, followed by Kisumu with 300,000. Eldoret City in Uasin Gishu County will get the third-largest share of 290,000 doses, followed by Kakamega with 276,000 doses and Nakuru with 264,000 doses. Mombasa and Garissa counties will each receive 120,000 doses, while  Meru and  Nyeri region will each get 90,000.

According to the Ministry, a total of 234,000 doses will be held at the central vaccine store as buffer stock. "We have maintained a buffer stock of vaccines sufficient for six months to guarantee an uninterrupted supply," Dr Amoth explained.

The Ministry expects to receive additional shipments of 486,000 doses of rotavirus vaccine, 2.3 million doses of the tetanus-diphtheria vaccine, and 1.2 million doses of pentavalent vaccine by Monday, next week.

A fresh consignment of 960,000 doses of oral polio vaccine will be arriving in the country early next month.

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