Kenya Child Immunisation Schedule: Which Vaccines Your Baby Needs and When
A parent-friendly guide to Kenya's national immunisation schedule, from BCG at birth to measles-rubella at 18 months, plus vitamin A, deworming and what to expect after vaccines.
- Written by
- Primegala Clinical Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 2 min read
On this page
Short answer: In Kenya, babies receive vaccines at birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 9 months and 18 months, plus vitamin A from 6 months. Your child's Mother & Child Health (MCH) booklet shows which doses are due. Bring it to every visit.
Kenya's Expanded Programme on Immunisation (KEPI) protects children against some of the most dangerous childhood diseases. Here's the main schedule in plain language. Your clinician will always confirm what's due using your child's MCH booklet, because schedules are occasionally updated.
The main schedule
| Age | Vaccines | Protects against |
|---|---|---|
| At birth | BCG, oral polio (birth dose) | Tuberculosis, polio |
| 6 weeks | Oral polio 1, Pentavalent 1, Pneumococcal (PCV) 1, Rotavirus | Polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, Hib, pneumonia, rotavirus diarrhoea |
| 10 weeks | Oral polio 2, Pentavalent 2, PCV 2, Rotavirus | As above |
| 14 weeks | Oral polio 3, Pentavalent 3, PCV 3, Injectable polio (IPV) | As above |
| 6 months | Vitamin A | Supports immunity and eyesight |
| 9 months | Measles–Rubella 1 (and yellow fever in selected counties) | Measles, rubella |
| 18 months | Measles–Rubella 2 | Measles, rubella |
Also: vitamin A every six months from 12 months to 5 years, and deworming from 12 months. Girls aged 10 are offered the HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer later in life. The number of rotavirus doses depends on the vaccine brand in use.
What to expect after vaccination
- Common and mild: fussiness, mild fever, redness or a small lump where the injection was given. These usually pass within a day or two.
- BCG: a small sore forms on the upper arm after a few weeks and leaves a small scar. This is normal; don't cover or treat it.
- Seek care if: your child has a high fever, seizures, swelling of the face, difficulty breathing or is unusually drowsy.
Missed a dose?
It's not too late. Bring your child and their booklet and we'll arrange catch-up doses.
Child health at Primegala
Our child health clinic at Maili Sita provides immunisations, growth monitoring, vitamin A and deworming, and we're open 24 hours when your little one is unwell. Book a child health visit.
At Primegala
Child Health & Immunisation
Vaccinations, growth monitoring and care for sick babies and children.
- Open 24 hours, every day, including public holidays
- Maili Sita, opposite Kiamaina Primary School
- SHA accepted for eligible services
Frequently asked questions
What if my child missed a vaccine?
It is not too late. Bring your child and their Mother & Child Health booklet and the clinician will plan catch-up doses.
Is it normal for my baby to have a fever after vaccination?
A mild fever and some soreness at the injection site for a day or two are common. Seek care if the fever is high, lasts more than two days or your baby is very unwell.