Influence of Storage Practices on Vaccines Availability in Public Health Facilities in Kisii County, Kenya

Vaccine stock outs remain a significant challenge in public health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where fragile health infrastructure and logistical inefficiencies undermine routine immunization programs. These stock outs disrupt vaccination schedules, expose populations, especially children—to vaccine-preventable diseases, and ultimately compromise health outcomes. In Kenya, repeated vaccine shortages have been reported across counties, often linked to poor cold chain management, insufficient maintenance of storage equipment, and inadequate inventory practices. This study aimed to assess the influence of storage practices on vaccines availability in public health facilities in Kisii County, Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, targeting 131 healthcare workers from all 131 public health facilities offering immunization services in the county. A census approach with purposive sampling was used to identify vaccine handlers. Data were collected using researcher-administered questionnaires and an observation checklist, and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Descriptive statistics summarized storage practices, while linear regression assessed the relationship between storage practices and vaccine availability, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The findings showed that while functional refrigerators were available in 90.6% of the facilities, availability of freezers (15.4%) and cold boxes (29.1%) was limited. Monthly physical counts were routinely done (mean = 3.57), but many facilities lacked routine maintenance plans and trained cold chain personnel (means = 2.90 and 2.71 respectively). Regression analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between storage practices and vaccines availability (R = 0.734, β = 0.734, p < 0.001), with 53.8% of the variability in availability explained by storage practices (R² = 0.538). The study concludes that strengthening cold chain infrastructure, training staff, and implementing structured maintenance plans are essential to improving vaccine storage and preventing stock outs. It recommends budget allocation for cold chain improvements and adoption of standard operating procedures to enhance vaccine availability and health system responsiveness in immunization delivery.