Concerns as anti-TB vaccine for newborns runs out in four counties
By George Kebaso, January 13, 2025Four counties have run out of the anti-TB vaccine Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), which is primarily used for newborns, while supplies in 16 counties are running low.
The counties without any stock are Nyamira, Baringo, Makueni, Bungoma and Bomet.
This is the third week since Bungoma County reported a stock-out, further putting newborns at risk of contracting the deadly airborne disease.
In Baringo, officials said the national government had promised to address the problem promptly.
“However, even as we are waiting for the issue to be addressed by the national government we are educating mothers to protect their newly born babies, and to limit proximity to many people,” said Health Chief Officer Nancy Chesire yesterday when she spoke to local journalists.
Dr Chesire said that all newborn babies should be taken care of by the mother alone to curb interaction with people. This, she emphasised, is meant to alleviate possible infection, if the baby comes across people who are positive for TB.
The counties with limited supply, and staring at a crisis if the issue is not solved quickly, are Kajiado, Migori which have enough for 1 and 1/2 month, with other counties having stock for less than a month.
Vihiga, Homa Bay, Nyandarua, Busia, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, and Samburu counties, all have limited supply, while Nakuru, has some doses but controlled administration to reduce wastage.
Yesterday, Civil Society Organisations threatened to seek legal redress if the government fails to address the evolving crisis.
Stop TB Partnership Kenya Country Lead, Evaline Kibuchi said it’s unacceptable that for the second time in about six months, the government has allowed babies to go home without the crucial vaccine.
“The result will be a likely upsurge in new infections among children,” she said, pointing out that this is coming at a time when the World Health Organisation (WHO) has just reported an increase in new infections among children below 15 years.
“It’s also a time when we are only five years away from the target of ending TB IN KENYA and globally,” she noted, and questioned; “how, as a country can we demonstrate our commitment to ending TB if we can’t at least protect the children from TB?”
BCG protects babies from contracting the more severe forms of TB, and without this vaccine, babies are vulnerable to this deadly disease.
“I urge the Government to take the BCG stock out as an emergency, and it is unacceptable that a child should leave hospital without this crucial vaccine,” Kibuchi said, also requesting partners to step in and support to ensure the supply is restored and all children who left hospital without BCG are followed and vaccinated.
Stephen Anguva, the National Coordinator of the Network of TB Champions Kenya cautioned that failure by the government to address the crisis compels the organisation to advocate for legal redress to ensure the Ministry of Health upholds its constitutional obligations to protect and promote children’s health.
“We are going to mobilise public awareness campaigns to hold the ministry accountable for any avoidable harm resulting from its inaction,” he said.
According to Anguva, this is not merely an issue of logistical oversight but a matter of life and death for Kenyan infants.
“The Network of TB Champions Kenya, as a representative voice for TB and public health advocacy, demands immediate action from the Ministry of Health and the CS,” he stated in a draft petition to Parliament.
The Network is urging the Parliamentary Committee on Health to ensure this issue is treated with the urgency it deserves, noting that the lives of children and the credibility of Kenya’s healthcare system depend on swift and decisive action.