The ministry of health has denied allegations that polio vaccination administered to children had advance side effects.
This comes after photos of children who are alleged to have developed skin lesions following the just concluded polio campaign were circulated on social media.
Through a statement, director of medical services Kioko Jackson said only two cases have been reported out of the 12 high-risk counties that the campaign was taken.
“That the two cases with such skin conditions were reported in Nairobi and Kiambu counties,”
Kioko said.
He said the two children were diagnosed to have had foot and mouth viral infection caused by coxsackie virus and not the polio virus.
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“It is reported that the child in Nairobi (Kasarani) developed the condition around the time of polio campaign which, ended on October 24.
It is also noted the siblings of the said child who were not vaccinated also presented with the same condition,” he added.
Kioko said the child in Kiambu county was reported to have had the skin lesions days before the onset of the polio vaccination campaign
“It therefore confirms the skin infection is not related and cannot be attributed to the polio vaccine given during the campaign,” Kioko said.
The director said the polio campaign exercise coincided with the season when the country experiences an upsurge of viral infections including flu and coxsackie among others viruses
He has also assured the parents that the viral infections caused by coxsackie and the flu virus are self-limiting and only require supportive treatment.
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“The Ministry therefore wish to assure all parents that the complications reported are not related to the polio vaccine given during the campaign and that all parents are encouraged to present any sick child to the nearest Health facility for investigation and treatment,” Kioko added.
The Police vaccine was conducted in Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu, Meru, Isiolo, Tana River, Lamu, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, and Kitui counties.