No legal action would be taken against the seven Catholic sponsored schools in Nakuru County that declined to allow their students vaccinated during the anti-measles and rubella campaign.
The vaccination period, which officially ended Tuesday, was pushed ahead to attend to the children who had not received the jab.
Nakuru Chief Officer of Public Health Kabii Mungai said it was now up to the parents to ensure their children had received the jab at any health facility.
“The Catholic church claims that the vaccine was not jointly tested and hence we are appealing to the parents from the affected schools to take their children to any of our health facilities. This is a new vaccine that has been tested by certified health organisations and its unfortunate that they are denying their children their legal right. The future of the children is at the mercy of the parents as they already know the effects of the measles which is the major cause of deafness,” said Kabii.
Nakuru Catholic Diocese Bishop Maurice Muhatia hit on the county health officials, accusing them of harassing staff in the schools.
He said the staff had been traumatised and arresting one of the nuns, and putting her in the cells was inhumane.
The nun has since been released on Sh5,000 cash bond.
Bishop Muhatia also argued that the health officials also locked up children in rooms so as to force them to be vaccinated.
However, Dr Kabii has asked the Bishop to report the harassment claims to the police.