Intense outbreaks of measles and typhoid fueling mass immunization efforts

Intense outbreaks of measles and typhoid fueling mass immunization efforts

In a bid to curb the rising cases of measles and typhoid outbreaks, particularly in urban slums and areas with limited access to clean water and proper sanitation, the Kenyan government has announced a nationwide integrated vaccination campaign. The campaign, scheduled from July 4 to July 13, 2025, aims to vaccinate millions of children across the country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), typhoid fever remains a significant public health concern in Kenya, with an estimated 126,000 cases and over 1,500 deaths annually. Measles outbreaks, on the other hand, have been reported in at least 23 counties, attributed to low uptake of the measles vaccine.

The campaign will target approximately 7.5 million children aged between 9 and 59 months for the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine. About 21 million children aged between 9 months and 14 years will receive the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV). The vaccines for the campaign will be administered at Early Childhood Development (EDC) centres, primary and secondary schools, and health facilities nationwide.

The Ministry of Health, with the support of partners including UNICEF and the WHO, has written to respective ministries, including Interior, Education, Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and county governments, seeking support for the campaign. The Ministry of Interior is expected to help mobilise local leaders such as village elders, chiefs, religious leaders, and opinion leaders in support of the vaccination.

The campaign activities will be directly funded through UN agencies. Ahead of the campaign, county governments such as Turkana and Trans Nzoia have conducted capacity building and sensitization efforts for healthcare workers and the public, enhancing preparedness and awareness.

The campaign comes in response to an increase in unvaccinated children in Kenya, which has contributed to measles and typhoid outbreaks. These vaccine-preventable diseases remain leading causes of death among unvaccinated children, threatening their growth and development.

The campaign is being conducted against a background of global reduced fiscal space, with an emphasis on the utilisation of domestic resources and leveraging on existing activities. The vaccines will subsequently be incorporated into Kenya’s routine immunization schedule to sustain protection long-term.

In addition to vaccination, efforts include training healthcare workers, strengthening microplanning, and mobilizing community health strategies to ensure broad coverage. Additional preventive measures focus on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene practices to reduce typhoid transmission alongside vaccination.

The aim of this comprehensive strategy is to curb current outbreaks and prevent future epidemics through increased vaccine coverage and public health interventions. The campaign is expected to reduce morbidity and mortality rates linked to these diseases by increasing immunity in children.

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