NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ministry of Health has confirmed the deaths of two children following October’s polio vaccination drive, a rare occurrence amid an otherwise successful campaign that vaccinated over 3.6 million children across nine high-risk counties.
The Director General for Health, Patrick Amoth, disclosed that the ministry recorded 23 post-vaccination events during the campaign, which ran from October 2-6.
These cases prompted the involvement of the Kenya National Vaccines Safety Advisory Committee (KNVSAC), which met on October 23-24 to review the reported adverse events.
Out of the 23 reports, 16 were classified as non-serious, with symptoms such as itchy rashes, fever, abdominal pain, and mild conjunctivitis.
However, seven cases were deemed serious, presenting more severe symptoms like lower limb weakness, convulsions, and herpes zoster, also known as shingles.
“Unfortunately, two of the reported cases resulted in death,” said Amoth, adding that investigations indicated these deaths were linked to underlying health conditions rather than the vaccine itself.
The ministry’s analysis found that 18 of the cases were coincidental, with factors such as pre-existing health issues or unrelated infections contributing to symptoms.
Four cases were categorized as vaccine-related reactions, involving mild issues like rashes and fever, while one case remains inconclusive due to insufficient data.
The Health Ministry emphasized that such adverse events are exceedingly rare and that the vast majority of children who received the vaccine experienced no complications.
“It’s important to highlight that over 3.6 million children were vaccinated safely, a testament to the vaccine’s overall safety,” Amoth reassured, noting that 16 of the reported cases have fully resolved and five are recovering.
To further enhance transparency, the ministry has encouraged parents and caregivers to report any post-vaccination concerns using the mobile-based reporting system, *271#, which connects to the Mobile Pharmacovigilance Electronic Reporting System (mPvERS).
The October campaign targeted Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado—regions identified as high-risk due to low vaccination rates and historical polio transmission risks.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous safety assessments to maintain public confidence in vaccination programs.
“Clear and comprehensive causality assessments help distinguish coincidental incidents from true vaccine-related reactions,” added Amoth. “We remain dedicated to safeguarding the health of our children and building trust in the immunization program’s safety.”
The Director General for Health, Patrick Amoth, disclosed that the ministry recorded 23 post-vaccination events during the campaign, which ran from October 2-6.
These cases prompted the involvement of the Kenya National Vaccines Safety Advisory Committee (KNVSAC), which met on October 23-24 to review the reported adverse events.
Out of the 23 reports, 16 were classified as non-serious, with symptoms such as itchy rashes, fever, abdominal pain, and mild conjunctivitis.
However, seven cases were deemed serious, presenting more severe symptoms like lower limb weakness, convulsions, and herpes zoster, also known as shingles.
“Unfortunately, two of the reported cases resulted in death,” said Amoth, adding that investigations indicated these deaths were linked to underlying health conditions rather than the vaccine itself.
The ministry’s analysis found that 18 of the cases were coincidental, with factors such as pre-existing health issues or unrelated infections contributing to symptoms.
Four cases were categorized as vaccine-related reactions, involving mild issues like rashes and fever, while one case remains inconclusive due to insufficient data.
The Health Ministry emphasized that such adverse events are exceedingly rare and that the vast majority of children who received the vaccine experienced no complications.
“It’s important to highlight that over 3.6 million children were vaccinated safely, a testament to the vaccine’s overall safety,” Amoth reassured, noting that 16 of the reported cases have fully resolved and five are recovering.
To further enhance transparency, the ministry has encouraged parents and caregivers to report any post-vaccination concerns using the mobile-based reporting system, *271#, which connects to the Mobile Pharmacovigilance Electronic Reporting System (mPvERS).
The October campaign targeted Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado—regions identified as high-risk due to low vaccination rates and historical polio transmission risks.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous safety assessments to maintain public confidence in vaccination programs.
“Clear and comprehensive causality assessments help distinguish coincidental incidents from true vaccine-related reactions,” added Amoth. “We remain dedicated to safeguarding the health of our children and building trust in the immunization program’s safety.”
