Govt Defends Polio Vaccine Safety After Two Deaths, Vows to Continue Campaign
The Ministry of Health on Friday, November 8, disclosed that two young lives were lost following the administration of the first dose of the polio vaccine issued last month. In a move aimed at transparency, the Ministry acknowledged 23 cases of adverse reactions to the vaccine reported since the polio campaign began on October 3, with seven cases classified as serious.
Amid increasing public concern and criticism, the Ministry assured Kenyans of the vaccine’s safety, stating that these adverse events were thoroughly investigated by the Kenya National Vaccine Safety Advisory Committee (KNVSAC). The Ministry’s Director General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, emphasized that evidence points to most reactions being coincidental and not directly caused by the vaccine.
“The majority of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) cases were classified as coincidental, indicating that most reactions were likely due to external or underlying factors rather than the vaccine itself,” Dr. Amoth affirmed in the statement.
Of the 23 reported cases, 16 were labeled non-serious, involving mild symptoms such as generalized rash, fever, conjunctivitis, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. However, seven cases presented more severe reactions, including lower limb weakness, convulsions, persistent diarrhea, vomiting, and herpes zoster. The Ministry revealed that 16 cases have since been resolved, with five others progressing toward full recovery.
The two tragic deaths, while deeply concerning, were acknowledged by the Ministry as cases likely involving pre-existing health conditions. Dr. Amoth reiterated that the polio vaccine campaign, initiated following an outbreak of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2), remains essential for protecting young children.
The campaign, which ran from October 3 to October 6, aimed to immunize 3.8 million children under the age of five across nine high-risk counties, including Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado. Despite the reported incidents, the Ministry is set to proceed with a second phase of vaccinations, scheduled for November 9 to November 13.
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Govt Defends Polio Vaccine Safety After Two Deaths, Vows to Continue Campaign
