The Ministry of Health has urged caregivers to take their children to health facilities for immunization, as the vaccine supply is now available.
Vaccines that have hit a critical low include BCG, Oral Polio, tetanus-diphtheria, and Measles Rubella.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry said it has received 1,209,500 doses of Measles Rubella vaccine, 3,032,000 doses of Oral Polio Vaccine, 1,000,000 doses of tetanus-diphtheria vaccine, and 3,129,000 doses of BCG vaccine.
Further, the Ministry revealed that the vaccines are being processed for distribution to nine vaccine stores nationwide.
To accelerate the process, the government has tasked refrigerated trucks to ensure the lifesaving vaccines reach the required health facilities on time.
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“We call on our health workers to collaborate with community health teams to ensure all children who missed vaccinations return to the facilities and catch up on their immunization schedule,” read the statement.
About 15,000 fewer children were vaccinated in April when the country started recording the shortages.
The government promised continuous engagement with the National Treasury to ensure increased and dedicated resources are allocated to the immunization program, ensuring timely vaccination processes within the country.
“To achieve this, the ministry is exploring innovative options for sustainable financing of vaccine procurement and program operations to prevent future stock out.”
At least 1.6 million infants, a similar number of pregnant women, and 750,000 girls under ten may have missed critical vaccines because the government missed out on a year-long supply after defaulting on a Kes 2 billion debt to a global supplier.
The shortage was caused by payment delays and a reduction in the budget for the procurement and distribution of routine vaccines.
In addition, the government has announced a Kes 1.25 billion allocation to procure routine childhood vaccines following a shortage experienced in several parts of the country.
