Kenya has successfully wrapped up one of its largest immunisation drives, reaching over 16 million children with vital vaccines against typhoid and measles-rubella.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, announcing the conclusion of the 10-day exercise, said the campaign received an overwhelmingly positive response from communities nationwide.
“This campaign has been a landmark achievement in our public health journey,” said Duale. “It’s one of the largest we’ve ever undertaken, and the turnout has been phenomenal.”
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that over 16.1 million children received the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV), reaching 84% national coverage. Another 5.18 million children were immunised against measles and rubella, achieving 81% of the targeted coverage.
A major milestone in the campaign was the successful vaccination of more than 74,000 zero-dose children those who had never received any routine immunisation before.
The Ministry further announced that the Typhoid Vaccine will now be available at all health facilities across the country, free of charge.
The success of the campaign, according to the Ministry, was made possible by the collective efforts of healthcare workers, the Ministry of Education, county governments, and numerous partners including Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, PATH, CHAI, Red Cross, AMREF, and the Polio Core Group.
“The Ministry of Education played a key role in enabling access to schools, ensuring we reached as many children as possible,” Duale added.
He also addressed the issue of misinformation, urging the public to remain vigilant and informed.
“We urge all Kenyans to seek information about vaccines from trusted and credible sources and to support routine immunisation in their communities. Together, we can ensure that every child in Kenya grows up healthy, protected, and ready to thrive.”
