Kenya has received a shipment of 9.3 million vaccine doses to bolster its immunisation programs against tuberculosis (TB), measles, and rubella. The consignment, which includes 2.3 million doses of the BCG vaccine and 7 million doses of the measles-rubella vaccine, arrived in the country on January 21, 2025.
Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, Health Director-General Patrick Amoth confirmed the arrival and distribution plans for the vaccines, which aim to address previous shortages and enhance disease protection across the country.
“We have maintained a buffer stock of vaccines sufficient for six months to guarantee an uninterrupted supply,” said Dr Amoth. He also assured the public that the Ministry of Health has a robust vaccine distribution system in place to address isolated challenges promptly and sustain immunisation efficiency.
The vaccines have already been dispatched from the central vaccine store in Kitengela to nine regional depots across the country.
Nairobi is set to receive the largest allocation with 450,000 doses of the BCG vaccine, followed by Kisumu with 300,000 doses, Kakamega with 276,000 doses, and Nakuru with 264,000 doses. Other regions including Mombasa, Meru, Nyeri, Garissa, and Eldoret will receive smaller allocations, while 234,000 doses remain in Kitengela as buffer stock.
In a further boost to immunisation efforts, the Ministry of Health announced the arrival of additional vaccine shipments in the coming days. By January 27, 2025, the country is set to receive 486,000 doses of the rotavirus vaccine, 2.3 million doses of the tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine, and 1.2 million doses of the pentavalent vaccine. Additionally, 960,000 doses of the oral polio vaccine are expected by February 3, 2025.
The BCG vaccine, which had been out of stock for over a month in some counties, is critical in teaching the immune system to recognise and fight TB bacteria without causing infection. Its shortage had caused significant challenges, with some counties experiencing limited supply and others facing complete stockouts.
With this latest shipment, the government hopes to address these gaps and ensure uninterrupted immunisation services nationwide.
