The Ministry of Health has addressed concerns raised by Kenyans regarding potential harmful effects of the recently administered polio vaccine to children.
There have been allegations circulating that the vaccine may be responsible for adverse reactions, including paralysis, illness, and, in extreme cases, death. In response, the Ministry confirmed receiving these reports and has initiated an investigation. A formal statement will be released once the investigations are complete.
"The Ministry of Health has received unverified reports regarding adverse events arising from the recent polio vaccination campaign. Investigations are ongoing, and a formal statement will be issued in due course," the Ministry stated via their official X page.
The Ministry also urged Kenyans to avoid spreading misinformation, advising patience until official findings are made public. "We discourage members of the public from spreading rumors and misinformation until the Ministry issues official information on this matter," the statement continued.
The concerns first surfaced on social media, where many parents expressed anxiety over their children's high fevers and other unusual reactions post-vaccination. Some even claimed that the vaccine had led to fatalities. Additionally, there were reports of health workers using vehicles with concealed license plates, prompting public suspicion about their motives.
In response, the Ministry set up channels for the public to report vaccine-related concerns, offering a hotline at 719 and the website http://health.go.ke for further inquiries.
The nationwide polio vaccination campaign, conducted from October 2-6, was in reaction to a recent outbreak of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 in the country. Five cases of polio had been reported, four in the Kakuma Refugee Camp and one in Nairobi's Kamukunji Sub-County. Over 3.8 million children under five across nine high-risk counties, including Nairobi, Busia, and Kiambu, were targeted for vaccination, according to Public Health PS Mary Muthoni.