Kenya has taken delivery of three million doses of the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for its nationwide Catch-Up Campaign aimed at protecting newborns against tuberculosis (TB) and closing existing immunity gaps.
The country’s Health Secretary, Hon. Aden Duale, also flagged off the tuberculosis immunization exercise along with 3.2 million doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) during a ceremony held in Nairobi.
During the flag-off, Duale called on all county governments—through the Council of Governors (CoG) and their County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) for Health—to prioritise the collection of the vaccines from regional depots and ensure timely distribution to health facilities, especially in remote and underserved areas.
He commended the government for acting swiftly to facilitate the delivery of the vaccines, describing the move as a strong demonstration of Kenya’s commitment to safeguarding the health of its children.
In addition, he acknowledged immunisation partners, including UNICEF, for their rapid procurement and delivery of the vaccines. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to minimise disruptions and sustain the country’s immunisation momentum.
Parents and caregivers across the country are encouraged to visit local health facilities to have their children vaccinated and catch up on any missed doses.
The Health Secretary was joined at the event by Principal Secretaries Dr. Ouma Oluga (Medical Services) and Ms. Mary Muthoni (Public Health and Professional Standards), Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, CoG CEO Ms. Mary Mwiti, and representatives from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
