Kenya to receive BCG, polio vaccines next month - Health CS Duale
Duale said the shortage, which has left thousands of children unprotected, was triggered by the Treasury’s failure to release Sh930 million in co-financing funds to Gavi in good time.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has confirmed that BCG and polio vaccines will arrive in the country between June 10 and 15, following a written assurance from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Appearing before the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Health on Thursday, Duale said the shortage, which has left thousands of children unprotected, was triggered by the Treasury’s failure to release Sh930 million in co-financing funds to Gavi in good time.
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“We have a system for procuring vaccines in Kenya, the traditional method where we pay for some of the vaccines using our own resources, and a co-financing method where we share with Gavi,” Duale said.
“We had a small problem with Gavi because of the exchequer, but the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury has committed to pay the Sh930 million as part of the co-financing.”
The delay has caused a nationwide stock-out of key vaccines, with BCG, which protects children against tuberculosis and the oral polio vaccine being the most affected.
The disruption has alarmed health officials, who warn that the shortage threatens to reverse critical gains made in reducing child mortality and preventing the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
“UNICEF confirmed to me in writing yesterday that the vaccines will be here by June 15th next month. It was because of our late exchequer release. It was only Sh1 billion, and we have already sent the money to UNICEF, and they have given us the timelines,” the CS said.
He acknowledged that the shortage has persisted for the past two weeks, with millions of children due for immunisation now forced to wait an extra month.
The current vaccine stock-out comes barely a year after a similar crisis hit the country, affecting childhood immunisations such as BCG, polio, rotavirus and tetanus.
Then, just like now, the root cause was a delay by the government in disbursing co-financing payments to Gavi, Kenya’s main partner in vaccine procurement, with last year’s bill amounting to about Sh1.2 billion.
The delay disrupted the timely delivery of vaccines and left many health centres across the country without supplies.
In a letter seen by the ministry, Gavi had previously reminded the Kenyan government that the full contribution for the 2024–2025 funding period must be paid by June 2025 to avoid jeopardising current and future support.
In addition to the vaccine crisis, Duale updated the legislators on reforms underway at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), which has long struggled with inefficiencies in its supply chain.
“I am here to confirm that the KEMSA refill is at 47 per cent. We are doing serious reforms. We’ve secured a letter of credit from KCB for Sh10 billion to ensure their refill rate is at 100 per cent,” he said.
The Ministry of Health has pledged to fast-track procurement processes to prevent a repeat of the crisis and ensure that all eligible children receive their scheduled immunisations without delay.
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