The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced a five-day polio vaccination campaign from October 2 to 6, 2024.
The campaign aims to enhance immunity among children in Kenya following the detection of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) in the country.
Speaking at a press conference, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni emphasized the urgency of the initiative.
The campaign follows the identification of cVDPV2 in four children residing in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County. Additionally, a positive sample of Type 2 polio was detected in Kamukunji Sub-County sewage, triggering heightened surveillance efforts.
Working closely with County Governments, the Ministry aims to vaccinate 3.8 million children across several counties.
This includes over 2 million children under ten years old in Busia, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, and Turkana counties. In Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, and Kajiado counties, 1.8 million children under five will also receive the vaccine.
PS Muthoni urged parents and caregivers in the targeted regions to ensure their children receive the vaccine, noting that high-risk areas, particularly in Western Kenya, should remain alert due to the proximity of an outbreak in Bio district, Uganda, near Bungoma County.
The campaign's first phase will administer 4.1 million doses, with a larger rollout of 14.6 million doses planned for the second phase in 2025.
