Urgent Vaccine Shortage Puts Children at Risk in Kenya
In a concerning development, children across 10 counties in Kenya find themselves vulnerable to life-threatening diseases amidst an acute shortage of vaccines plaguing the nation.
Affected Counties
Among the hardest hit are Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nyamira, Kilifi, Siaya, and Migori, where children face heightened risks due to the scarcity of essential vaccines.
Infant Vulnerability
Infants, in particular, are at greater risk, with the shortage of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine raising concerns about the potential contraction of Tuberculosis (TB), including severe TB meningitis, prevalent among newborns.
Crucial Vaccination Schedule
The vaccination schedule, crucial for safeguarding children against preventable diseases, includes the administration of measles and rubella vaccines in two doses, with the initial dose at nine months and a booster shot at 18 months.
Dr. Priscilla Wairimu’s Insight
Urgent Vaccine Shortage Puts Children at Risk in Kenya
Dr. Priscilla Wairimu underscores the critical role of vaccinations in disease prevention, emphasizing their contribution to reducing mortality rates. She stresses the importance of timely immunisation to bolster immunity and shield children from fatal illnesses.
Risk of Disease Resurgence
The vaccine shortage threatens to undermine the significant progress made in combatting vaccine-preventable diseases, potentially leading to a resurgence of issues such as measles and polio, which have been effectively controlled through vaccination programs.
Out-of-Stock Vaccines
Key vaccines such as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), measles, rotavirus, and DTP are currently out of stock in various regions, exacerbating the vulnerability of children to diseases such as tuberculosis, tetanus, diphtheria, and rotavirus infection.
Protecting Children’s Health
Dr Wairimu emphasizes the critical role of vaccines in protecting children from debilitating illnesses, including severe diarrhoea caused by rotavirus, respiratory infections from measles and rubella, and the potentially fatal complications of tetanus and diphtheria.
Urgent Call to Action
Amidst the vaccine shortage crisis, urgent action is needed to ensure the availability of essential vaccines and safeguard the health and well-being of Kenya’s children. Without timely intervention, the nation risks compromising the gains made in disease prevention and control.
In Other News; High Court Halts Kenya Judicial Staff Association Elections
Urgent Vaccine Shortage Puts Children at Risk in Kenya
1 Comment
Pingback: Tragic End for Kenyan Climber Cheruiyot Kirui on Mount Everest Expedition - The Daily Brief