International Vaccine Institute to establish project office in Nairobi
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is set to establish a country and project office in Nairobi.
The office will serve as IVI's regional headquarters and will help Kenya achieve self-reliance in vaccine production, President William Ruto has said.
Through his official social media page, President Ruto who is currently in Seoul, South Korea, announced that the country has been admitted as a member state of IVI during the accession ceremony of Kenya at IVI headquarters.
“Kenya has formally joined the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) as a Member State, strengthening our country's resolve to achieve self-reliance in vaccine production. Increased vaccine availability will enhance the delivery of our primary healthcare and disease prevention,” Ruto said. 
Ruto further stated that the increased vaccine availability will enhance the delivery of primary healthcare and disease prevention in the Country.
“During the accession ceremony of Kenya at IVI headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, in the company of IVI Director-General Jerome Kim. IVI committed to establish a Country and Project Office in Nairobi, which will be the regional headquarters,” he said.
Kenya has formally joined the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) as a Member State, strengthening our country's resolve to achieve self-reliance in vaccine production.
Increased vaccine availability will enhance the delivery of our primary healthcare and disease prevention.… pic.twitter.com/xl0mh4WeiO— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) June 5, 2024
Vaccine shortage
Ruto’s deal comes after the Ministry of Health said that it has taken urgent steps to address the vaccine shortage in the country and ensure our children remain protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Ministry of Health said it has allocated Ksh1.25 billion to urgently procure routine childhood vaccines, including BCG, Oral Polio, Tetanus-Diphtheria, and Measles-Rubella, which had reached critically low levels in the country.
"As of today, we are pleased to announce the receipt of the following vaccines:1,209,500 doses of Measles measles-rubella vaccines 3,032,000 doses of Oral Polio Vaccines (bOPV) 1,000,000 doses of Tetanus-Diptheria vaccines 3,129,000 doses BCG vaccines,” Ministry of Health stated.
The vaccines will be distributed to the nine regional vaccine stores across the country. The Ministry will also use refrigerated trucks to ensure these lifesaving vaccines reach the health facilities and communities by the second week of June 2024.
During the process, the healthcare workers will collaborate with community health teams to ensure all children who missed vaccinations return to the facilities and catch up on their immunization schedule.
“We will continue engaging the National Treasury to ensure increased and dedicated resources are allocated to the immunization program, ensuring stable vaccine supplies. Ring-fencing domestic resources will guarantee sustainable financing for immunization and universal access to vaccines, aligning with our efforts in Primary Health Care,” the Ministry of Health said.
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