This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
On Friday, Kenya marked a significant milestone in the fight against cervical cancer with the introduction of a free vaccine for 10-year-old schoolgirls. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) has invested approximately Sh 600 million in this project, with Kenya contributing its co-financing portion of roughly Sh 50 million.
Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary announced that this is just the beginning, with every girl who turns 10 in the future set to receive the vaccine. The vaccine will be offered nationally, alongside other routine infant vaccines, through an existing network of over 9,000 public, private, faith-based, and NGO health facilities, free of charge to 800,000 girls.
According to the CS, the country has stockpiled more than 1.3 million doses of the vaccine, exceeding the target of 800,000 girls. Each girl will receive two doses of the vaccine, six months apart, and will be issued an immunisation card to establish their immunisation status and provide the date for the second dose.
Dr. Fiona Atahebwe, Vaccines Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO) regional office, assured Kenyans that the vaccines have no side effects, as witnessed in other parts of the world. The WHO aims to eradicate cervical cancer and plans to vaccinate 90% of girls under the age of 15 by 2030 to achieve this target.
