Murang'a: Murang'a County has launched a 10-day vaccination campaign against measles and typhoid, with health officials urging parents and guardians to present their children for the Measles-Rubella (MR) and Typhoid Conjugate Vaccines (TVC). Speaking during the official launch held at Murang'a County Referral Hospital, County Director of Health Dr. James Mburu stated that these vaccines are part of a nationwide effort to protect children from preventable diseases.
According to Kenya News Agency, the national campaign targets children aged 9 months to 5 years for the MR vaccine and those aged 9 months to 14 years for the typhoid vaccine. Dr. Mburu emphasized the importance of the vaccines, noting that they are critical in preventing illnesses that have recently shown an upward trend in the country. He explained that disease surveillance and positive results from both the county and national levels necessitated this vaccination campaign.
Dr. Mburu highlighted that the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with vaccine production partners, is leading the initiative to ensure vulnerable age groups are reached. He warned about the severe health outcomes of these diseases, with typhoid spreading through contaminated water and food, and measles and rubella being viral diseases. He noted complications such as perforated intestines from typhoid and potential vision loss from measles and rubella, stressing that these can be prevented through vaccination.
The campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 108,000 children aged 9 months to 5 years for the MR vaccine and about 331,000 children aged 9 months to 14 years for the typhoid vaccine, totaling roughly 440,000 children. Veronica Kang'ethe, the county's vaccination coordinator, indicated that Murang'a South and Kandara sub-counties have the highest number of children, while Ithanga has the lowest. She mentioned that vaccinations will occur at health facilities, schools, churches, markets, and other mobile sites over the next 10 days, unlike polio campaigns, which are door-to-door.
Wambui Mwaniki, a nurse and parent, encouraged fellow parents to participate in the campaign, sharing her experience of having her two children vaccinated during the launch. She urged parents to embrace the vaccines and protect their children from measles, rubella, and typhoid.