The Ministry of Health has officially unveiled the second phase of a comprehensive polio vaccination campaign in Kenya. The new campaign is scheduled to run from Saturday, 7th October, through to Wednesday, 11th October 2023.
This campaign, according to the ministry, is a pivotal step in the ongoing battle against the recent outbreak. The polio outbreak emerged in Dadaab refugee camp in Garissa County in June of this year.
From the outbreak, three cases were confirmed positive for vaccine-derived polio. Another eight suspected cases are undergoing sequencing to determine if they are positive or not.
Commitment to Polio Eradication
During a media briefing and stakeholder meeting held on Thursday, October 05, Ms. Mary Muriuki, the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, reaffirmed the Ministry’s unwavering dedication to eradicating polio in Kenya.
PS Muriuki pointed out that despite initial progress in combating the outbreak, recent cases in Garissa County have demonstrated the virus’s continued presence.
In response, she stressed the urgency of the government in taking decisive action to protect children and communities.
“I strongly urge all parents to ensure that their children receive the full series of required vaccine doses. This will help us to prevent further polio outbreaks. The immunization commences with the birth dose. It then continues with additional doses at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks,” she added.
Targeting High-Risk Counties
Ms. Muriuki also disclosed that the upcoming campaign would focus on ten high-risk counties. These include Mandera, Wajir, Tana River, and Lamu. Others are Kitui, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, Nairobi, and Garissa.
The campaign, which will start on Saturday, 7th October, will run up to Wednesday, 11th October 2023. It aims to reach 3,119,158 children under the age of 5 across all targeted sub-counties.
According to the Health Ministry, the ultimate objective of the government is to vaccinate approximately 3.1 million children.
Expressing her gratitude, Ms. Muriuki extended heartfelt thanks to all stakeholders for their invaluable support during the previous vaccination round. The first phase of the vaccination campaign achieved an impressive 104.2% coverage of the target population across four counties.
Dr. Emmanuel Okunga, Head of the Division of Disease Surveillance and Response, also highlighted the need to address the cross-border risk of transmission. He added that the Kenyan government is collaborating closely with the Somali government.
The government of Somalia successfully concluded its polio immunization campaign in the last week of September.
According to the World Health Organization, up to 90 percent of individuals infected with polio are either asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms, often going unnoticed.
The Ministry of Health is determined to eliminate the resurgence of polio and secure a polio-free future for Kenya through these vital vaccination efforts.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign launched by the Ministry of Health in Kenya?
A: The second phase of the polio vaccination campaign aims to combat a recent polio outbreak in Garissa County and further the efforts to eradicate polio in Kenya.
Q: Which counties are the focus of the upcoming polio vaccination campaign?
A: The campaign targets ten high-risk counties: Mandera, Wajir, Tana River, Lamu, Kitui, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado, Nairobi, and Garissa.
Q: What is the goal of the vaccination campaign in terms of the number of children to be reached?
A: The campaign aims to reach 3,119,158 children under the age of 5 in all targeted sub-counties, with a goal of vaccinating approximately 3.1 million children in this age group.
Q: What percentage of polio cases exhibit mild or asymptomatic symptoms?
A: According to the World Health Organization, up to 90 percent of individuals infected with polio are either asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms, often going unnoticed.
