A shipment of over eight million doses of vaccines for children worth Sh1.25 billion arrived in Kenya on Thursday.
Principal Secretary in the State Department for Medical Services Harry Kimtai received the consignment at the Kitengela Central Vaccine Store in Kajiado county.
“This marks a significant step towards safeguarding the health of our children and ensuring a healthier future for all,” the Ministry of Health said on X.
The childhood routine vaccines were procured by the Ministry of Health to address recent vaccine stock-outs across the country.
The replenished vaccines include Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), Oral Polio, Tetanus-Diphtheria, and Measles Rubella.
The ministry said they will be distributed to the nine regional vaccine stores from Friday, June 7.
The vaccines will be transported to Nairobi, Meru and Nyeri on June 7, Nakuru and Mombsa on June 10, Kisumu and Kakamega on June 11 and Garissa and Eldoret on June 12.
Kimtai urged healthcare workers to collaborate with community health teams to ensure children who missed vaccinations catch up on their immunisation schedules.
“Caregivers are also encouraged to bring their children to health facilities for immunisation as vaccine supplies have normalised,” Kimtai advised.
The ministry expressed gratitude to Gavi for its support over the years and committed to a smooth transition as Kenya works towards full self-financing by 2030.
Gavi is an international organisation created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world's poorest countries.
To ensure stable vaccine supplies, the ministry is exploring innovative financing options and engaging the National Treasury for increased resource allocation to the immunisation programme.