Newborn babies at risk as hospitals run out of TB vaccine
Director of Medical Services Nicholas Muraguri. Dr Muraguri confirmed on December 29, 2015 that there is a nationwide shortage of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine that protects children against TB and diseases like meningitis. PHOTO | JAMES EKWAM | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Ministry of Health officials Tuesday confirmed the nationwide shortage of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine that protects children against TB and diseases like meningitis.
The vaccine, which is given as a single dose, is commonly administered at birth and is on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) list of essential medicines.
At least one million children contract TB worldwide each year, 140,000 of whom die of the curable disease.
Newborn babies across the country are at risk of contracting Tuberculosis (TB) because government hospitals have run out of a crucial vaccine.
Ministry of Health officials Tuesday confirmed the nationwide shortage of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine that protects children against TB and diseases like meningitis.
