Polio Vaccination Campaign to Cover None High Risk Counties
Polio Vaccination Campaign to Cover None High Risk Counties
Polio Vaccination Campaign to Cover None High Risk Counties
Polio Vaccination Campaign to Cover None High Risk Counties
Polio Vaccination Campaign to Cover None High Risk Counties
Polio Vaccination Campaign to Cover None High Risk Counties
Polio Vaccination Campaign to Cover None High Risk Counties
Polio Vaccination Campaign to Cover None High Risk Counties

Polio Vaccination Campaign to Cover None High Risk Counties

MoH News / Tue, 10/01/2024 - 11:28

 2024  The Ministry of Health will launch a nationwide polio vaccination campaign from 2nd to , in response to a recent outbreak of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) in Kenya. 

This year, five cases have been confirmed, including four children from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County and one positive environmental surveillance sample in Kamukunji Sub-County, Nairobi.

The vaccination campaign will target over 3.8 million children under the age of five across nine high-risk counties: Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado, said Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms. Mary M. Muriuki, during a media stakeholders' briefing held  in Nairobi. She emphasized the government’s commitment to eradicating polio and highlighted the crucial role of over 107,000 Community Health Promoters in the campaign’s success. Ms. Muriuki urged parents and caregivers in the target counties to ensure their children are vaccinated.

Additionally, Ms. Muriuki addressed the ongoing mpox outbreak in Kenya, confirming eight cases. She advised the public to practice hygiene and avoid physical contact with symptomatic individuals. The Ministry is also working to secure mpox vaccines for high-risk populations.

The polio campaign coincides with the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) on , aimed at providing sustainable healthcare financing under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.

We extend our gratitude to our partners—WHO, UNICEF, Rotary, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the US CDC, the Kenya Red Cross Society, and many others. Thank you to parents, caregivers, community leaders, teachers, national government officials, and healthcare providers for ensuring all children are immunized and that suspected disease cases are reported promptly. Your commitment is vital for a healthier future. Together, we can make a difference! 

For more information or to report suspected cases of polio or mpox, contact the Ministry of Health via emergency hotlines: 719, 0729471414, or 0732353535.