The Ministry of Health is urging mother and father and caregivers to make sure their youngsters obtain typhoid and measles-rubella vaccinations inside the subsequent 48 hours, as Kenya’s nationwide immunization marketing campaign enters its remaining stretch.
More than 3.5 million youngsters have obtained the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine, and 12.1 million have been vaccinated towards typhoid because the marketing campaign kicked off on July 5.
The marketing campaign targets 6.5 million youngsters for MR and 19.2 million for the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV), with the primary part ending in three days, adopted by a two-day mop-up.
“Vaccination is secure, efficient, and life-saving,” the ministry stated in an announcement on July 12. “We urge all caregivers to behave now.”
Ignore the Misinformation
The ministry defined the marketing campaign’s attain, noting that over 4,000 zero-dose youngsters, those that had by no means been vaccinated obtained each MR and TCV vaccines in the course of the drive.
Vaccines are being administered freed from cost at public well being services, faculties, church buildings, mosques, markets and different group venues.
Mobile well being groups are additionally conducting door-to-door outreach to achieve eligible youngsters.
Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to eliminating vaccine-preventable illnesses, urging Kenyans to depend on correct well being info and warning towards the hazards of misinformation.
“From city facilities to distant areas, mother and father and caregivers have proven sturdy dedication to defending youngsters from these preventable however probably lethal illnesses,” Duale stated.
“Misinformation places lives in danger,” the CS warned.
Vaccination Campaign in Kenya
Both MR and TCV vaccines have been authorized by the World Health Organization and meet rigorous worldwide and native security requirements.
The ministry thanked well being employees, spiritual leaders, group mobilizers, and the general public for supporting the marketing campaign.
The assertion additional burdened that the remaining days are important to reaching full immunization targets and defending all Kenyan youngsters from the specter of illness.
Kenya’s Director-General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, emphasised that each vaccine used within the nation is totally reviewed and authorized earlier than being added to the nationwide immunization program.
He inspired mother and father and guardians to make sure their youngsters obtain all advisable vaccines, displaying the federal government’s sturdy dedication to defending the well being of all Kenyans, particularly youngsters, by using confirmed, secure, and efficient immunizations.
Dr. Amoth reassured the general public that vaccines such because the Measles-Rubella and the lately launched Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine have met all needed regulatory requirements.
“Each vaccine undergoes a complete vetting course of involving two unbiased oversight our bodies earlier than it’s rolled out nationally,” he famous.
He additional defined that the primary stage of analysis is carried out by the Kenya National Technical Immunization Advisory Group (KENITAG), which examines international information on vaccine security, efficacy, and greatest practices.
