Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Friday officially launched the Integrated Measles-Rubella and Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Campaign at Githogoro Grounds in Westlands, Nairobi. The nationwide initiative seeks to improve immunization coverage and reduce child mortality from preventable diseases across the country.
Running from July 1st to 14th, 2025, the campaign targets children aged 9 to 59 months for the Measles-Rubella vaccine and children aged 9 months to 14 years for the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV). CS Duale emphasized the safety, effectiveness, and free availability of the vaccines at all public health facilities and outreach sites.
“This campaign is our opportunity to close the immunization gap and reach the last child in the last mile,” said Duale. “Typhoid fever continues to plague families, especially in informal settlements with limited access to clean water. Drug-resistant strains are increasing, making treatment more complex and costly.”
Duale noted that the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine, newly included in the national immunization schedule, provides strong protection for at least four years with a single dose. He also raised concerns over the low uptake of the second dose of the Measles-Rubella vaccine, citing nearly 3,000 measles cases and 18 deaths between January 2024 and February 2025.
The campaign is part of Kenya’s “Big Catch-Up” initiative — a concerted effort to vaccinate children who missed routine immunizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aligns with the government’s broader Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, with immunization seen as a foundational pillar.
Duale also highlighted the Ministry’s push for the Quality of Healthcare Bill, which aims to standardize safety, equity, and accountability across the health sector.
He praised Kenya’s healthcare workers and thanked development partners including WHO, UNICEF, PATH Kenya, Gavi, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative for supporting logistics, cold chain systems, and training.
Present at the launch were key stakeholders, including Principal Secretaries Dr. Ouma Oluga and Mary Muthoni, Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth, Nairobi CEC for Health Suzanne Silantoi, and Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi.
CS Duale urged the media to counter vaccine misinformation and promote accurate, science-based health communication.
