The vaccine plays a key role in protecting young children from rotavirus infections.
Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of severe diarrhoea and dehydration among infants and young children.
If not treated quickly, the illness can lead to serious health complications and even death, especially in vulnerable communities.
Under Kenya’s routine immunisation programme led by the Ministry of Health (Kenya), the Rotavac vaccine is given orally to infants at six weeks, ten weeks, and fourteen weeks after birth.
This schedule helps protect babies during the early months of life when they are most vulnerable to infections.
The government said the supply disruption is not unique to Kenya. According to officials, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance notified the country that Bharat Biotech’s facility upgrade has affected the production timeline for vaccines scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027.
As a result, several countries that rely on the same supply chain have also been affected.
Health authorities have assured the public that the shortage is temporary and that efforts are underway to address the situation.
The ministry is working closely with international partners to monitor the supply chain and secure alternative shipments where possible.
Officials have also emphasized that the country’s broader immunisation programme remains intact.
Other routine vaccines for children are still available and being administered as scheduled across health facilities nationwide.
Despite the current shortage, the Ministry of Health has encouraged parents to continue taking their children to clinics for routine vaccinations and health check-ups.
Healthcare workers have been instructed to provide guidance to parents and caregivers on how to manage vaccination schedules during the temporary disruption.
The ministry also noted that Kenya has made significant progress in reducing childhood illnesses through immunisation programmes over the years.
Vaccines against diseases such as measles, polio, and pneumonia have played an important role in improving child survival rates in the country.
Health experts say the Rotavac vaccine has been particularly effective in reducing hospital admissions caused by severe diarrhoea among children.
Before the vaccine was introduced into routine immunisation programmes, rotavirus infections were a major cause of illness among infants in many parts of the world.