Analysis
After months of shortages, Kenya’s Ministry of Health announced at a June 12 press conference that it prepared to distribute more than 6 million doses of BCG (tuberculosis) and oral polio vaccines. While many people celebrated the news, many were critical of what they viewed as the government turning a basic public health responsibility into a PR opportunity. Several social media users accused the government of creating a problem to solve publicly. A few posts speculated that the vaccines are unsafe or expired, while others expressed doubts about the origin and contents of the vaccines.
Recommendations
Myths that cast doubt on the safety of routine vaccines may lead to hesitancy. Health communicators may use conversations about vaccine shortages to emphasize that every ingredient in polio vaccines is thoroughly tested for safety and encourage parents to speak with community health workers about vaccine safety concerns. Messaging may explain that vaccination is the only way to protect children from diseases like polio and tuberculosis.