Health ministry says no ARV shortage, to stock BCG vaccines by end month

Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) CEO Waqo Erjesa said on Wednesday that there is enough stock for the drug, assuring all their clients of an assured supply. 

Likewise, Health Director-General Patrick Amoth added that the ministry is set to receive 2.34 million doses of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccines used in preventing Tuberculosis by the end of January.

Amoth further directed counties to record those who will miss the vaccine.

"We are looking at sustainable solutions to ensure we don't have shortage," he said.

This lies against a backdrop of a nationwide shortage of BCG vaccines, as reports indicated that it has been out of stock for over a month, with some counties facing limited supply while others have complete stock out.

The matter has increased health threats to infants across the nation, making them vulnerable to contracting the dangerous disease, TB.

Data by MoH reveal that the proportion of TB in children below the age of 15 years was 13 percent in 2024, a slight increase from 12 percent in 2023.

At least 139,000 people developed TB in Kenya in 2023 and 17,000 of them were children.

Similarly, the country was reported to be facing ARV shortage at a time when 16,752 new HIV infections were recorded in 2024, 10,784 in women and 5,968 in men. 

The Ministry also reported 20,480 AIDS-related deaths last year, including 2,607 children.