Journal of Clinical Immunology and Allergy

Responsiveness of vaccines to humans in Kenya: examining safety and efficacy of human vaccines

European Congress on Vaccines & Vaccination and Gynecologic Oncology
October 26-27 ,2018 Budapest , Hungary

Johnstone Mutua

Kisii University, Kenya

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Journal of Clinical Immunology and Allergy

DOI: 10.21767/2471-304X-C2-006

Abstract

Vaccination is not only recognized as the most cost-effective form of health care but also it’s the most efficient and effective way of preventing infections. Despite recent report showing big support for vaccination in communities, few issues need to be addressed i.e. the safety of vaccines to human health, adverse effects and transparency in public involvement in vaccination programs in the country. Studies made to investigate the acceptability of vaccines and identify the determinants to low and high levels of acceptability noted; doubts on safety of vaccines, occurrences of deaths due to vaccination and lack of awareness of adverse effects of vaccines as barriers to achieving high vaccination rate in Kenya. For example, from recent polio vaccination program, symptoms like skin rashes, convulsion, fever and diarrhea were reported. For transparency sake, safety and assurance; the government should explain as to why shift from trivalent polio vaccine which had fewer adverse symptoms to upgraded bivalent vaccine which gave much worries to most parents. Yes, it could be very true these adverse effects are as a result of influenza outbreak in most part of the country as the ministry of health stated but claims that the vaccines may have been contaminated should thoroughly be investigated and epidemiological investigation should be carried out in cases of outbreak of other infections that could worsen effects of vaccines. Earlier this year in Bomet County, a child died and four other admitted in hospital as a result of measles vaccines. At the same time, children aged 9 and 12 months responded to the vaccine by swelling. Other places within the nation had report of the deaths of several children. The government stated that death in some children was as a result of ignorance by mothers from dangers of repeated dosage and Vitamin A supplement within a short span. Others were thought to have died of other ailment apart from effects of vaccination. Health personnel should critically take the issue of repeated dosage to prevent more deaths on the same. In Kenya, it was reported that the Church ill advised its members on tetanus vaccination despite it been involved in all meetings to discuss the jabs. The church claimed that the vaccine is not safe to be used on Kenyan citizens as it had fertility issues among women. A study published in American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene gave differences in tetanus vaccination rate between men and women in Kenya. This was due to deaths of men as a result of vaccination with tetanus vaccine. Based on the above claims, the question remains how safe and efficient is human vaccines on population. If an outbreak of other diseases could mean mortality upon vaccination, then more research should be done to counter the lethal effects that could arise. With deaths on children and adverse effects upon immunization, thorough studies should be carried out to reduce deaths that have occurred and assure the public of safety of their children. Disparities that arise as to why only women are vaccinated and men are not should be addressed as to why the tetanus vaccine caused deaths in men with East Africa countries. A lot research has to be done and measure has to be put into place on vaccines to ensure health on our future generations.

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