More than two weeks prior, networks of civil society organizations in six counties had reported stock-outs. The basic vaccines are starting to run out in more countries.
Susan Nakhumicha, the secretary of the health cabinet, confirmed the shortages yesterday and linked them to a pending claim for unpaid payments that were supposed to help with the distribution.
“Yes, we have a challenge, but it’s being worked on,” Nakhumicha said at Afya House in Nairobi.
She claimed that she had discussed the matter with Harry Kimtai, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, and Njuguna Ndung’u, her equivalent in Treasury.
Under the Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunization (KEPI), UNICEF and the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) provide the vaccines that are administered to neonates. However, stock-outs occurred because the government had not yet paid the necessary amount to allow the transfer of the life-saving newborn vaccinations.
Following news of a measles outbreak in Garissa County and several areas of northern Kenya, Nakhumicha made his comments.
“There are two levels of vaccine storage in the country – at the national and sub-national levels,” she said.
