Rotavirus Vaccine Shortage Hits Kenya as Health Ministry Announces Global Supply Disruption
Kenya is facing a Rotavirus vaccine shortage, after the Ministry of Health confirmed a temporary disruption in the global supply of the Rotavac Frozen vaccine, which is routinely administered to infants.
In a public notice issued on Friday, March 6, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that the shortage has been caused by delays from the vaccine manufacturer.
The vaccine, produced by Bharat Biotech, is part of Kenya’s routine immunization programme and is given to infants at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age to protect them against rotavirus infections that cause severe diarrhoea.
Global supply disruption affecting Kenya
According to Duale, the disruption is linked to production delays at the manufacturer’s facilities.
“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.
“Gavi the vaccine Alliance notified Kenya that the manufacturer, Bharat Biotech, is experiencing production delays due to facility upgrades, affecting vaccine deliveries in 2026–2027,” said Duale.
The vaccine is supplied through support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which coordinates vaccine procurement for several countries.
Due to the disruption, Kenya’s national vaccine stock has dropped significantly.
Kenya left with limited vaccine doses
Duale revealed that the country currently has only 4,000 doses remaining at the national level — an amount that represents less than one month’s supply.
The situation became more complicated after a shipment expected in January 2026 failed to arrive on time.
According to the ministry, the earliest possible delivery is now expected at the end of April 2026, leaving a temporary gap in the immunization programme.
Health officials are now working urgently to manage the available doses while seeking alternative solutions.
Government working with global partners
Despite the shortage, the government has assured parents that efforts are underway to stabilize the vaccine supply.
CS Duale said the Ministry of Health is coordinating with partners including UNICEF to accelerate vaccine deliveries.
“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 minimize service disruption,” he said.
Officials are also redistributing the remaining doses across counties to ensure that the available stock is used efficiently.
Parents advised to continue clinic visits
Even with the ongoing Rotavirus vaccine shortage, the ministry is urging parents and caregivers not to skip routine immunization appointments.
Instead, families have been advised to continue attending clinic visits while health facilities manage the limited stock.
Duale also encouraged parents to strengthen diarrhoea prevention practices, including proper hygiene and sanitation, to help protect infants during the supply gap.
Rotavirus infections are a major cause of severe diarrhoea among young children, making vaccination a critical part of early childhood healthcare.
Previous vaccine shortages raise concerns
The latest shortage comes only months after Kenya experienced disruptions in the supply of other childhood vaccines.
At the time, the country faced shortages of BCG and Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), affecting several counties.
At least 12 of the 47 counties had reportedly run out of vaccines completely.
Ouma Oluga, a senior official in the health ministry, had attributed the situation to global supply challenges.
“The low vaccine stock levels have resulted from a combination of factors, and mainly the Global vaccine supply bottlenecks, which continue to impact several countries,” PS Ouma Oluga said at the time.
The vaccine situation improved later in 2025 after the government received 6.2 million doses, which were distributed across counties after being flagged off by CS Duale.
However, the current rotavirus vaccine shortage highlights the continued vulnerability of global vaccine supply chains.
What happens next?
Health officials remain optimistic that the situation will stabilize once new shipments arrive later in April.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Health says it will keep monitoring vaccine stock levels nationwide while working with global partners to restore normal supply.
For parents, health experts emphasize the importance of continuing routine clinic visits and following preventive measures to protect children from infections.
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Rotavirus Vaccine Shortage Hits Kenya as Health Ministry Announces Global Supply Disruption