The Kenya Government through the Ministry of Health embarked on the process of formalizing immunization services after the 1978 Alma Ata declaration  The Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunization (KEPI) was established to coordinate these services, which targeted the six childhood killer diseases at the time with the six available antigens at the time. The diseases included TB, Polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus and Measles.

Vaccination has been one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions in history as exemplified by the eradication of smallpox, and is associated with a dramatic reduction in morbidity and mortality from several other illnesses. Recognizing these achievements, the Ministry of Health consolidated all vaccination services under a single unit, presently known as The National Vaccines and Immunization Program (NVIP).  Today, NVIP offers vaccination against 13 killer diseases and other non-EPI vaccines.