Nairobi, Feb. 8 -- The Global Alliance of Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) has extended its support to Kenya by two years to 2029, helping avert a looming crisis in primary healthcare.

Health PS Harry Kimutai disclosed GAVI's extension on Wednesday, a move aimed at ensuring that the country, through the Kenya BioVax Institute, can start formulating vaccines locally.

GAVI, the main donor of vaccines and immunisation funds in Kenya, had earlier said it would end its support in 2027, triggering fears of a crisis in the annual roll-out of the primary healthcare programme, given GAVI and UNICEF provide at least Sh32 billion for the initiative every year.

Kenya BioVax Institute is in the advanced stages of setting up a facility at Embakasi i...