Vaccines Administered to Our Children Are Safe, Ministry of Health Clarifies Nairobi, Kenya - 9th November 2024

The Ministry of Health has reaffirmed the safety of vaccines administered to children across Kenya, assuring that all vaccines go through rigorous testing before being used by the public. 

 Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, emphasized that all vaccines, including the polio vaccine, are safe and essential for protecting children against preventable diseases. “All the vaccines given by the Ministry of Health, including the polio vaccine, are safe and effective in protecting our children against vaccine-preventable diseases,” Dr. Amoth stated, highlighting that vaccines undergo stringent safety and efficacy tests to ensure public safety. 

Dr. Amoth also noted that vaccines are developed to stimulate an immune response, helping the body fight infectious diseases. 

Addressing concerns from the recent polio vaccination drive conducted from October 2 to October 6, 2024, across nine counties, he confirmed that any issues raised were reviewed and addressed by the Vaccine Safety Advisory Committee. 

 Polio, Dr. Amoth explained, is a highly contagious and disabling disease that can lead to paralysis or death within hours if young children are not fully vaccinated. While there is no cure, he stressed that polio can be prevented through the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV). “All Kenyan children under the age of five should be up to date with their childhood vaccinations, receiving polio doses at birth, six weeks, ten weeks, and fourteen weeks as per the routine immunization schedule,” Dr. Amoth said. 

He added that during outbreaks, polio vaccines are administered to all children aged 0-59 months, regardless of previous vaccination status. Dr. Amoth encouraged parents to continue bringing their children for immunization, noting that vaccination efforts have saved the lives of countless children in Kenya.