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Principal Secretary for Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, has assured Kenyans that the oral polio vaccine being administered to children across the country is both safe and effective.

Speaking to the media, PS Muthoni emphasized the necessity of the vaccination drive given Kenya’s vulnerability to polio.

Muthoni added that all vaccines used in the country are rigorously tested by the National Quality Control Laboratory and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to ensure they meet safety and effectiveness standards.

“Kenya remains at risk, and that is why we are continually doing the oral polio vaccine because every vaccine adds a layer of protection. All vaccines in the country are tested by the National Quality Control Laboratory in conjunction with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and they have been confirmed to be safe and highly effective,” Muthoni stated.

Adding;

“This vaccine is also approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). This vaccine is used everywhere else in the world.”

The PS also announced that the Ministry of Health has reached over 3.6 million children, representing 86% of the targeted 4.2 million.

She said the campaign aims to cover 95% of the intended population by the end of today.

“As of yesterday, we have been able to vaccinate way over 3.6 million children; that is 86% of the expected target. We are expected to vaccinate 4.2 million children, and we aim to reach 95% by the close of business today.”

New vaccination drive

The polio vaccination campaign, launched on October 2, 2024, initially targeted high-risk counties including Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado. However, reports of adverse reactions to the vaccine soon surfaced, prompting an investigation into the vaccine administered.

On November 8, 2024, the Ministry of Health confirmed that two children had passed away after receiving the vaccine in the October campaign. Despite these reports, the Ministry announced a second vaccination drive, which would run from November 9 to 13, 2024, across the same high-risk counties.

“The polio vaccination campaign is here to protect our children’s future! From November 9th to 13th, 2024, make sure your child is vaccinated in any of these high-risk counties: Busia, Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia, West Pokot, Turkana, Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado,” the Ministry stated.

The initial campaign, which ran from October 2 to 6, 2024, received 23 reports from parents and caregivers about post-vaccination symptoms. In response, the Ministry enlisted the Kenya National Vaccines Safety Advisory Committee (KNVSAC) to examine these cases.

16 of the reported cases presented mild symptoms like rashes, fever, conjunctivitis, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which the committee assessed as typical, mild vaccine reactions. However, seven cases were categorized as severe, with symptoms such as convulsions, high fever, weakness in the lower limbs, and herpes zoster (shingles).

The Ministry noted that five of these severe cases have since been resolved, while two unfortunately resulted in fatalities.

“Seven (7) of the reported cases were serious, presenting with generalized red and sometimes itchy bumps in the skin and fever, weakness of the lower limbs, convulsions, diarrhoea and vomiting, and herpes zoster. An analysis of the serious and non-serious events showed that 16 of the reported cases had been resolved, while five (5) were in the process of resolving. Two (2) of the reported cases unfortunately resulted in death,” the Ministry of Health said.

After further review, health authorities concluded that 18 of the cases were coincidental and linked to other underlying health conditions or environmental exposures. Four cases were identified as direct vaccine reactions, mainly involving rashes and fever.