The Ministry of Health announced on Friday, November 8, that two children had died after receiving their first dose of the polio vaccine, which was part of a nationwide campaign launched last month.

In its statement, the Ministry reported that since the campaign began on October 3, there have been 23 reported cases of adverse reactions, seven of which were classified as serious, while the remaining cases were deemed "coincidental."

The Kenya National Vaccine Safety Advisory Committee (KNVSAC) led an investigation to address the concerns and regain public trust in the vaccine's safety. According to Dr. Patrick Amoth, the Director General of Health, most adverse reactions were attributed to underlying health conditions rather than the vaccine itself.

"The majority of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) cases were coincidental, likely due to external or pre-existing factors rather than the vaccine," the Ministry stated.

Among the 16 non-serious cases were symptoms like mild rash, fever, and conjunctivitis. The more serious cases presented symptoms such as limb weakness, convulsions, and vomiting. While 16 cases have fully recovered, five are still under observation. Tragically, two children passed away, though their deaths were believed to have been influenced by pre-existing health issues.

This recent vaccination drive, held from October 3 to October 6, was launched to combat an outbreak of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2). Targeting 3.8 million children under five across nine high-risk counties, the campaign will proceed with a second phase from November 9 to November 13, despite the concerns raised.