Kenya is expected to apply for rabies vaccines from Gavi to fight the virus, which kills about 2,000 Kenyans every year.
The vaccines financier said this will help the country achieve its ambition to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.
Dog vaccines are not covered by this programme.
This is the first time Gavi, which finances vaccines for childhood vaccines, is supporting the rabies vaccines for post exposure prophylaxis as part of routine immunisation.
The deadly nature of rabies and its traumatic symptoms make it one of the world’s most feared diseases.
Ninety-five per cent of human rabies deaths occur in Africa and Asia, most often in marginalised communities that lack access to care, according to the World Health Organizaton.
Gavi said the first round of applications will be accepted by mid July.
This development complements ongoing global efforts of the Zero by 30 campaign, led by United Against Rabies partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization, WHO and the World Organisation for Animal Health, formerly OIE with the goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.
“This commitment from Gavi is crucial and will expedite efforts to halt human fatalities caused by dog-mediated rabies,” said Dr Jérôme Salomon, assistant director-general for universal health coverage, communicable and noncommunicable diseases at WHO.
“WHO will provide technical assistance to countries, not only to support their funding applications to Gavi but to draw up comprehensive plans of action that can deliver real progress towards the Zero by 30 goal.”
In more than 150 countries where dog rabies remains a serious public health problem, stocks of human rabies vaccines in public health systems are often extremely limited, especially in marginalised communities.
Where human rabies vaccine is available through private facilities, the cost of PEP can impose a catastrophic financial burden on families and communities.
“Gavi’s aim with this programme is to contribute to global rabies efforts and save lives by helping countries ensure human rabies vaccines are available to anyone who needs them and that vulnerable and marginalised communities have equal access to these essential medicines,” said Aurélia Nguyen, chief programme officer at Gavi.
Rabies is a viral disease that causes severe inflammation of the brain. In 99 per cent of cases, it is transmitted to humans by a rabid dog.
Once the virus reaches the central nervous system and an infected person shows clinical symptoms, rabies infection is near 100 per cent fatal.
However, rabies infection is preventable by prompt PEP, which consists of thorough wound washing, administration of a course of good quality human rabies vaccine and immunoglobulins if needed.
Gavi initially agreed to include human rabies vaccines for PEP in its 2021-25 Vaccine Investment Strategy, however the COVID-19 pandemic led to postponement of the programme until mid-2023, when the decision to restart was made by Gavi’s board.
“Gavi’s investment is hugely important and underpins a key pillar of the global strategy to stop people dying from this terrible disease,” said Prof Lucille Blumberg, chair of United Against Rabies.
“But to stop human rabies deaths completely, we urgently need better data and surveillance, dog populations must be vaccinated, and people must be educated about what to do if bitten, and how to avoid being bitten in the first place. Stopping human deaths from rabies is within our reach, but it will take multiple sectors working together to achieve it.”
Countries are not required to have a national rabies control plan in place to apply for the first round of multiyear funding, but a national plan will be mandatory for all subsequent applications.
Kenya has a Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Human Rabies in Kenya 2014 – 2030.
Last year, the Ministry of Health sent 60,000 doses of human rabies vaccine to the high-risk counties.
Makueni, Machakos, Kitui, Bomet, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Kisii, Kakamega, Siaya, Kisumu and Migori received 2,000 doses each, Nairobi 3,000 doses while Lamu received 1,000 doses.
CS Susan Nakhumicha said 180 healthcare workers from Lamu, Samburu, Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Kwale, Nakuru, Tharaka Nithi, Siaya, Kisumu, Nandi and Uasin Gishu had been trained between 2020 and 2022 with more training expected to be conducted in 2023 for the remaining high-risk counties.
“Rabies is common in Kenya, with human rabies deaths reported mainly in Siaya, Kisii, Kitui, Lamu, Turkana, Nakuru, Nairobi, Migori, Kakamega and Nandi counties,” she said.
