The Ministry of Health has reported that two children died following the recent polio vaccination campaign conducted between October 2-6, 2024.
Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, shared that the ministry received 23 reports of adverse events after vaccination, which were subsequently reviewed by the Kenya National Vaccines Safety Advisory Committee (KNVSAC) during its October 23-24 meeting.
Of the 23 cases reported, Dr. Amoth explained that 16 were classified as non-serious, with symptoms such as generalized itchy rashes, fever, conjunctivitis, body rashes, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
However, seven cases were more severe, involving symptoms like generalized red bumps on the skin, fever, lower limb weakness, convulsions, diarrhea, vomiting, and herpes zoster.
“An analysis showed that 16 cases have resolved, while five others are in the process of resolving,” Amoth said. “Sadly, two of these cases resulted in fatalities.”
Following an in-depth investigation, 18 of the cases were deemed coincidental, with causes attributed to underlying health issues or environmental exposure, rather than the vaccine itself. Four cases were classified as vaccine product-related, manifesting in reactions such as generalized rashes and fever. One case remains indeterminate due to insufficient information.
Dr. Amoth emphasized that caregivers and parents reported concerns through health facilities and the mobile-based platform *271#, linked to the Mobile Pharmacovigilance Electronic Reporting System (mPvERS), which facilitates public reporting of post-vaccination issues.
The October campaign targeted nine high-risk counties, including Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado, reaching over 3.6 million children. While acknowledging the two tragic deaths, Dr. Amoth underscored that the vast majority of vaccinated children remain healthy, underscoring the general safety of vaccines.
“These findings highlight the need for thorough causality assessments to distinguish coincidental health issues from vaccine-related reactions, reinforcing public trust in the immunization program’s safety,” he added.
