Nyeri: Nyeri County is hoping to attain a 100 percent vaccination target with a planned countywide inoculation campaign against measles and typhoid for children aged nine months to 14 years. The campaign is set to run from July 5th to July 14th, 2025, as part of the National Measles-Rubella and Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Campaign.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Department of Medical Services and Public Health has already released notification of the planned vaccination exercise. The county aims to inoculate 66,509 children aged between nine and 59 months with measles-rubella jabs and another 213,509 children aged between nine months and 14 years with typhoid-conjugate vaccines.
Nationally, the 10-day campaign targets approximately 3.9 million children across all 47 counties, after which both vaccines will be incorporated into Kenya's routine immunization schedule. Joyce Maina, the County Expanded Program on Immunization Logistician, emphasized the importance of parental involvement in ensuring the success of this critical undertaking aimed at reducing child mortality rates.
Maina also highlighted the challenges faced in achieving the 100 percent target due to limited staff and budget constraints. To mitigate these issues, the Department for Medical Services is employing Community Health Promoters to raise awareness through door-to-door campaigns. Additionally, the county government is collaborating with grassroots administrators and religious leaders to publicize the program.
The necessity of this campaign stems from the World Health Organization's recommendation for measles vaccinations every five years, as immunity is not guaranteed in every child. The campaign also addresses the need to immunize children who missed vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic due to lockdowns.
The typhoid vaccination effort is driven by the emergence of drug-resistant strains of the disease, exacerbated by poor sanitation and frequent antibiotic use. Maina noted that typhoid is particularly fatal among children under five years, highlighting the importance of vaccination in combating antimicrobial resistance and protecting vulnerable populations.