133,000 children miss vital vaccines as immunisation rates drop

By Newsflash Reporter

An alarming 133,000 children in Kenya missed essential routine vaccinations in 2024, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef report, spotlighting a worrying drop in the country’s immunisation coverage.

While global childhood vaccination rates have seen slight improvements, Kenya has veered off course, experiencing a sharp decline. The country now accounts for 4.7% of children in Eastern and Southern Africa who have not received a single vaccine—commonly referred to as “zero-dose” children—and 0.9% of such cases globally. Compared to 2023, this marks a troubling increase of 90,000 unvaccinated children.

Of the 14 vaccines in Kenya’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (KEPI), only four achieved the recommended 90% coverage in 2024, leaving thousands of children susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Stock-outs of critical vaccines such as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for tuberculosis, Measles-Rubella (MR), and oral polio vaccines were also reported, further exacerbating the crisis. Measles coverage faced major challenges, with nearly 178,000 children missing their first dose, making it one of the most poorly administered vaccines.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine—introduced in 2020 to protect girls aged 9–14 from cervical cancer—registered the lowest coverage in 2023 at just 4%. However, uptake improved in 2024, with first-dose coverage reaching 79%. Still, completion rates remained low at just 36%.

The WHO noted that Kenya has had recurring measles vaccine stock-outs in 2018, 2019, 2020, and again in 2024, highlighting persistent issues in the country’s vaccine supply chain.

Sharp decline across multiple vaccines

Eight vaccines recorded lower coverage compared to the previous year. These included BCG, Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP1 and DTP3), the first inactivated polio vaccine (IPV1), the first dose of the measles vaccine (MCV1), the third dose of the pneumococcal vaccine (PCV3), the third polio vaccine dose, and Yellow Fever. The rotavirus vaccine was the only one with increased coverage.

Despite these setbacks, Kenya has made notable progress since 2002 by adding nine new vaccines to its schedule, reflecting an overall commitment to child health. But the new report warns that systemic problems could undo past gains.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged progress but urged greater action. “It is encouraging to see continued increases in vaccinated children, but we still have a long way to go,” he said. “Cuts in aid and vaccine misinformation threaten to reverse decades of progress.”

Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell echoed these concerns. “We must urgently tackle shrinking health budgets, weak health systems, misinformation, and access issues driven by conflict. No child should die from a preventable disease,” she stressed.

The WHO attributed Kenya’s declining vaccination coverage to multiple factors: limited access to healthcare, supply chain failures, conflict and instability in some areas, and widespread misinformation about vaccine safety.

“Even small declines in immunisation rates can increase the risk of disease outbreaks and put more pressure on already overstretched health systems,” the WHO cautioned.

Dr. Adeel Shah, a paediatric infectious disease specialist, said while missing some birth vaccines may not always result in immediate harm, early immunisation offers better protection. “Common side effects like swelling or mild fever are expected, but serious reactions are rare,” he said.

Prof. Walter Jaoko, a medical microbiologist at the University of Nairobi, emphasised that vaccination not only protects individual children but also reduces disease transmission within communities. “Without vaccination, children are at serious risk of contracting diseases like measles, TB, polio, and diphtheria. These can lead to blindness, paralysis, or even death,” he warned.

Prof. Jaoko also highlighted the economic toll of low immunisation coverage. “Treatment costs far exceed prevention. Leaving children unvaccinated burdens the healthcare system,” he said.

He further warned about the impact of online misinformation. “In the past, the media was regulated and responsible. Now, with the rise of the internet, anyone can post anything. Unfortunately, many people take false vaccine claims at face value,” he noted.

The WHO reaffirmed its commitment to helping countries find local solutions and boost domestic funding to expand vaccine access. “We are working closely with our partners to ensure all children benefit from life-saving vaccines,” said Dr. Tedros.