Uasin gishu: The County Government of Uasin Gishu, through the Department of Health, has announced a comprehensive supplementary immunization activity aimed at boosting the health and well-being of children across the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Evans Kiprotich, the County Director of Health, stated that the exercise will run from July 5th - 14th, covering a span of ten days. The campaign will target two key age groups. Children aged nine months to 14 years will receive the typhoid vaccine, while those aged 9 months to 5 years will be immunized against rubella and measles as well.
He affirmed that both vaccines will be administered via injection, ensuring maximum efficacy. Dr. Kiprotich explained that children above 5 years will only receive the typhoid vaccine, as they fall outside the age bracket for the rubella and measles vaccine. However, younger children, those between 9 months and 5 years, will receive two injections, one for each disease.
In total, the initiative aims to reach an estimated 430,000 children within the county. This large-scale effort is part of a broader strategy to eradicate typhoid and prevent the spread of rubella and measles, particularly among vulnerable children under five.
The Director emphasized that the vaccines are safe, free of charge, and will be available at both public and private health facilities authorized to offer immunization services. In addition, mobile vaccination teams will be deployed to schools, churches, and other community gathering points. These outreach efforts are designed to ensure that no eligible child is left behind.
'We will work closely with school heads, parents, and community leaders,' Dr. Kiprotich stated. 'Furthermore, our teams will be active over the weekends in churches and other venues where children can be reached.'
The Health Department is appealing to all parents, guardians, and local organizations to support the initiative to ensure that children in Uasin Gishu grow up free from typhoid, rubella, and measles, diseases that are not only preventable but also potentially life-threatening if left unaddressed.