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