NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Health has announced a nationwide shortage of the Rotavac Frozen rotavirus vaccine, warning that supplies currently available are expected to last less than a month.
In a public notice issued Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the shortage stems from a temporary disruption in global vaccine supply affecting the routine immunisation programme for infants.
The Rotavac Frozen vaccine is administered to babies at six, ten, and fourteen weeks of age to protect them against severe diarrhoea caused by rotavirus infection.
“The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public of a temporary disruption in the global supply of the Rotavac Frozen rotavirus vaccine, routinely administered to infants at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age,” Duale said in the statement.
According to the ministry, only about 4,000 doses remain in the national vaccine stockpile — an amount that falls far below the country’s monthly requirements.
Global supply disruption
The shortage follows a notification from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, that the vaccine manufacturer, Bharat Biotech, is currently experiencing production delays.
Duale said the delays are linked to facility upgrades at the manufacturer’s production plants, which have affected scheduled deliveries to several countries during the 2026–2027 supply cycle.
“Gavi notified Kenya that the manufacturer, Bharat Biotech, is experiencing production delays due to facility upgrades, affecting vaccine deliveries in 2026–2027,” he said.
A shipment initially expected in January 2026 has already been delayed, with the earliest possible delivery now projected for the end of April.
Emergency mitigation measures
The government said it is working with international partners to minimise disruptions to Kenya’s immunisation programme.
Duale said the ministry is collaborating with UNICEF and other global health partners to accelerate vaccine shipments and redistribute the remaining doses across counties.
“The Ministry of Health is working closely with UNICEF and partners to fast-track shipments, redistribute available doses equitably across counties, and closely monitor stock levels to minimise service disruption,” Duale said.
Health authorities are also reviewing stock management strategies to prioritise the most vulnerable populations during the shortage period.
Advice to parents
Despite the shortage, the ministry urged parents and caregivers to continue taking infants for routine immunisation visits at health facilities.
Officials also advised families to strengthen preventive measures against diarrhoeal diseases, including proper sanitation, safe drinking water, and hand hygiene.
Rotavirus remains one of the leading causes of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children worldwide, and vaccination is considered a key public health intervention in reducing child mortality.
Wider vaccine supply challenges
The latest shortage comes months after Kenya faced stock-outs of other critical childhood vaccines, including the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine (BCG) and the Oral Polio Vaccine.
At least 12 of Kenya’s 47 counties had completely run out of those vaccines earlier, according to health officials.
Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga at the time attributed the shortages to global supply bottlenecks affecting several countries.
“The low vaccine stock levels have resulted from a combination of factors, mainly global vaccine supply bottlenecks, which continue to impact several countries,” Oluga said previously.
Kenya last received a major consignment of childhood vaccines in June 2025, when the government flagged off 6.2 million doses for distribution to counties as part of efforts to strengthen routine immunisation coverage.