Kenya is facing a nationwide stockout of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine with newborn babies being discharged without getting the critical vaccine that aids in the prevention of Tuberculosis in infants, it has now emerged. The fresh crisis is reportedly the second stockout of the important vaccine in 2024 with hospitals calling for an immediate arrest of the situation.
The shortage has left Kisumu and Baringo as the most affected counties in the country with health stakeholders calling out the government on the over-reliance of donors to partially fund critical areas in healthcare.
At the Kisumu County Hospital, the shortage of the BCG vaccine, which is one of the three vaccines administered at birth, has forced the hospital to register mothers directing them to avail their infants for vaccination in January.
A nurse administering a vaccine to a baby at a Nairobi hospital on April 16, 2021.
