Dr Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health, and other stakeholders, during the media awareness brief in Nairobi.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has launched a plan for an integrated
Measles-Rubella and Typhoid Conjugate vaccine campaign across the country from July 5 to July 14.
The programme will run across all 47 counties, with the
aim to vaccinate more than 15 million children aged between nine months to 14 years
with Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV), and nine to five years with the Measles-Rubella
(MR) vaccine with an aim to reach all children.
In a media brief to create awareness for the upcoming campaign
held in Nairobi that brought together stakeholders from religious organizations,
Ministry of Education, United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (Unicef),
the World Health Organization, PATH among others, the ministry called for a coordinated
effort in the plan for it to be a success in all the 47 counties.
Speaking during the program launch, Dr Patrick Amoth,
Director General, Ministry of Health, said that this campaign is more than a
health intervention but geared towards protecting the children’s future.
“This is not just about intervening a health risk at the
moment. This is a bold commitment to the children’s future, a shared investment
in health, equity and prosperity for generations to come,” the DG noted.
“We are focused on the achieving the Universal Health
Coverage agenda by ensuring the health of all children. In that regard, immunisation
lies at the heart of preventive health hence saving lives, averting diseases and
ensuring every Kenyan regardless of where they live has access to protection
from preventable infections,” he added.
He noted that Typhoid fever remains a persistent and
entirely preventable burden. With over 100,000 cases annually in Kenya, it
disproportionately affects the most vulnerable; children, those living in
informal settlements and communities without clean water and sanitation. This
vaccine marks a turning point.
With just a single dose, Dr Amoth said, the Typhoid
Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) provides up to five years of protection. It is safe,
effective, and tailored for the young population most at risk.
He reiterated that this campaign goes beyond typhoid because
Measles and Rubella are emerging threats, particularly following disruptions
from the COVID-19 pandemic. Between January 2024 and February 2025 alone, Kenya
confirmed 2,949 measles cases and 18 deaths which could have been prevented
hence the campaign to prevent them.
Despite having free and available vaccines, our immunisation
coverage remains below target: 83% for the first MR dose, and just 60 per cent for the second.
To interrupt transmission and prevent outbreaks, we must reach 95 per cent coverage for
both.
Dr Bashir Issak, Director Family health at the ministry of Health
said that the 95% target will only be achieved by eliminating the information
gap between the government and the people that has always taken a toll whenever
such programs are rolled for the benefit of the people. He called on religious leaders
and the media to leverage their platforms in creating awareness for the
upcoming vaccination programme.