MoH launch polio immunisation drive in four Northern Kenya counties
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has launched a mass polio immunisation campaign drive targeting four Northern Kenya counties beginning yesterday February 25, 2025.
The four counties targeted include; Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa and Mandera.
In a quick dispatch to newsrooms yesterday, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the campaign targets 176,949 children under 11 years in Marsabit and 651,252 children under five years in Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera.
Another round of immunisation is planned for April in the same counties, which have been identified as high-risk due to low vaccination rates and cross-border movements.
PS Muthoni said the decision to conduct the campaign follows the confirmation of a polio case in Ethiopia’s Moyale region in October 2024, just 15 kilometers from the Kenyan border.
“It is important to note that any confirmed case of polio indicates that more than 200 unreported cases may exist, highlighting the importance of enhanced surveillance and public health response measures to prevent any potential spread of the outbreak,” the PS stated.
She urged parents and caregivers to present all eligible children for vaccination regardless of their prior immunisation status to help interrupt virus transmission.
“We want to reassure the public that all vaccines used in the country are safe, effective, and have undergone rigorous testing. Receiving multiple doses of the polio will not harm your child, but will provide additional immunity to your child against the disease,” she affirmed.
The PS stressed the need for routine immunisation and urged the public to report suspected cases to the nearest health facility or through the Ministry’s hotlines at 719, 0729 471414, or 0732 353535.
