With just days remaining in Kenya’s national vaccination drive, the Ministry of Health is calling on parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive the free measles-rubella and typhoid vaccines before the campaign concludes.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced on Saturday that, so far, 3.5 million children have received the measles-rubella vaccine just over half of the 6.5 million target. Meanwhile, 12.1 million children have been vaccinated against typhoid out of a goal of 19.2 million.
In a notable milestone, more than 4,000 “zero-dose” children those who had never received any vaccine before were also reached during the campaign.
“With only three days left in the main phase and two additional days for mop-up, we are urging all caregivers to take immediate action,” Duale emphasized. “Vaccination is not only safe and effective it saves lives.”
The campaign, which began on July 5, is offering the World Health Organization (WHO)-approved vaccines free of charge at public health facilities and designated outreach locations, including schools, religious institutions, markets, and community centres. In addition, mobile health teams have been dispatched to remote areas to reach children who might otherwise be missed.
Duale reassured the public of the government’s commitment to safeguarding children from preventable diseases and stressed the importance of seeking information from credible sources.
“We must protect our children from diseases that are entirely preventable,” he said. “We urge all Kenyans to avoid misinformation and rely on trusted sources such as the Ministry of Health, licensed healthcare providers, and our official partners.”
The Ministry continues to monitor the campaign’s progress closely and is urging every eligible family to take advantage of the final days to vaccinate their children.
