This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
On July 19, 2019, the Ministry of Health in Kenya received a much-needed shipment of vaccines to address a two-month shortage in the country.
The consignment included 2.3 million doses of the polio vaccine and 1.9 million doses of the measles rubella vaccine, which Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki stated would last for four months.
"I assure the public that we have sufficient stocks of vaccines within the country," she said.
Private hospitals had been capitalizing on the shortage, charging Kenyans up to Sh20,000 for vaccinations that were supposed to be free.
The vaccines were procured and fully paid for by the government through an international agreement with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).
Additionally, the Ministry of Health expects to receive more vaccines in July, procured through a joint investment between the government and the Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiative (GAVI).
The government spends over Sh7 billion annually on immunization services, with at least Sh1.2 billion allocated for vaccine procurement.
