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Keeping vaccines cold was previously a daily gamble in Ngatu, a remote village in Kenya’s Kajiado County. Without electricity, the local dispensary struggled to store vaccines safely, often relying on distant facilities. This situation changed with the arrival of the Vaccibox, a portable, solar-powered refrigerator. Since then, routine immunisation services have stabilised and even expanded.
Nurse Janet Ogege, who leads the facility, no longer worries about power outages or spoiled vaccines. Mothers from neighbouring communities now travel to Ngatu specifically to access reliable vaccination services.
The Vaccibox is a portable, solar-powered vaccine refrigerator that maintains a temperature of 2–8°C using solar panels. It operates for up to 36 hours on battery power, auto-regulates its temperature, stores 3,000 doses and ensures safe vaccine delivery in off-grid settings.
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Can you introduce yourself and describe your role at Ngatu Dispensary?
My name is Janet Ogege and I am a registered nurse at Ngatu Dispensary. As the officer in charge, I oversee multiple departments, including the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) unit and the Outpatient Department (OPD). My responsibilities include general patient care, staff supervision and ensuring the smooth operation of our health programmes. A key aspect of my role is managing routine immunisations for infants and children.
What kind of immunisation services are provided at your facility?
At the MCH, we provide routine immunisations starting from birth. We begin on day zero, immediately after a child is born and continue until they are 18 months old. These vaccines are crucial for protecting children from various communicable diseases that can be prevented through early immunisation. We adhere to the national immunisation schedule, which includes vaccines for diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, and measles. Our goal is to ensure that every child in our community is protected as early as possible.
What changes have you experienced since the introduction of the Vacibox?
The Vacibox has been a game changer for us. Before its introduction, we relied on electricity to keep our vaccines cold, which posed numerous challenges due to frequent power outages. When the electricity went out, we often had to seek alternative locations, sometimes far away, to store the vaccines temporarily. This risked spoilage and disrupted our immunisation schedule.
With the Vacibox, which operates on solar power, we no longer have to worry about these issues. It functions independently of the main power grid and maintains our vaccines at the correct temperature, even in the absence of electricity. This capability allows us to offer vaccinations every single day without interruption.
Can you share any examples of how the Vacibox has helped during power outages?
Yes, certainly. Just a week ago, a nearby facility in Imaroro lost power and brought their vaccines to our facility for safekeeping. Currently, another facility is experiencing a similar issue and is storing their vaccines elsewhere. However, thanks to the Vacibox, we do not encounter such setbacks. It provides us with peace of mind knowing that our vaccines are safe, allowing us to continue our services without delay.
Is the Vacibox helpful for offsite immunisations?
Absolutely. One of its best features is its portability. We frequently conduct school immunisations for the HPV vaccine for girls. Occasionally, we vaccinate up to 200 students in one day. We take the Vacibox with us to the school, complete the vaccinations, and then return it to the facility. Its reliability and ease of transport make outreach programmes significantly more efficient.
How many vaccine doses can the Vacibox hold at one time?
The storage capacity is impressive. Although the vials are small, the box can accommodate a substantial number of them. For instance, I can store up to 500 doses of the measles vaccine in it and the same applies for BCG. However, based on my monthly workload, I typically only take about 100 doses at a time to minimise the risk of wastage. We strive to align our supply closely with demand.
On average, how many children do you vaccinate per month now? How does that compare to before you had the Vacibox?
Currently, I vaccinate between 90 and 200 children each month, which is a significant increase compared to the 50 to 60 children we averaged monthly before acquiring the Vacibox. This rise can be attributed to several factors: the Vacibox's reliability, our consistent availability and the influx of individuals from surrounding areas who now come to our facility. Some mothers travel from as far as Olgira for vaccinations because their local facilities often experience power outages. Additionally, we have a large market every Tuesday and many people take advantage of that day to get their children vaccinated while they shop.
Have you faced any technical issues with the Vacibox since it was installed?
There have been very few problems. While nothing is perfect, the Vacibox has proven to be extremely reliable. On one occasion, the internal temperature dropped too low, it was freezing and the unit wasn’t functioning properly. I contacted the support office in Nairobi, and they responded quickly to resolve the issue. Since then, the unit has performed well, even during periods of cloudy weather. When sunlight is limited, it still maintains around 60% power storage, which is more than sufficient for our needs.
Given your large catchment area and offsite vaccination duties, is having just one Vacibox sufficient?
Yes, for now, one Vacibox is adequate. It holds enough vaccines to meet our monthly requirements and is portable enough for our school programmes. I have not found it to be a limitation. Of course, if our workload increases significantly in the future, we may consider acquiring another unit. However, at the moment, it fully meets our needs.
In your opinion, how has the Vacibox impacted your overall ability to deliver vaccines effectively?
It has made a significant difference. The Vacibox ensures that we can keep our vaccines safe and ready at all times, regardless of power issues. It has enabled us to increase the number of children we reach, enhance our outreach efforts and support surrounding communities when they face challenges. It has helped us operate more efficiently and confidently. It is a reliable and essential tool for our immunisation programme.