A major milestone has been achieved in Kenya’s public health sector following the conclusion of a nationwide mass vaccination campaign against measles and typhoid. The initiative saw a strong turnout, with over 12.1 million children receiving the typhoid conjugate vaccine and another 3.5 million immunised against measles-rubella (MR).
The campaign, which ran from July 5 to 14, targeted 19.2 million children for the typhoid vaccine and 6.5 million for the MR vaccine. While the targets were not fully met, the progress marks a significant step toward enhancing child health and reducing preventable disease outbreaks.
Among those vaccinated were approximately 4,000 zero-dose children children who had never received any vaccines before. Reaching these children was a critical achievement, helping to close immunisation gaps and improve herd immunity in vulnerable communities. Children aged 9 to 59 months were eligible for the MR vaccine, while those aged 9 months to 14 years received the typhoid shot.
Despite instances of vaccine hesitancy often fueled by misinformation or a lack of awareness the campaign gained momentum through the combined efforts of healthcare workers, caregivers, community mobilisers, and religious leaders. The government continues to stress that vaccination is safe, effective, and life-saving, with both typhoid and measles vaccines approved by the World Health Organization following extensive safety testing.
As the main phase of the campaign concludes, two additional mop-up days have been scheduled to reach children who were previously missed. Vaccination services were made widely accessible through public health facilities, schools, religious institutions, markets, and house-to-house outreach efforts, ensuring broad coverage.
Currently, Kenya’s overall vaccine coverage stands at 80 percent, but measles vaccination remains lower at only 60 percent. This gap leaves many children at risk of contracting a disease that can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain damage, and blindness. Health experts continue to advocate for improved awareness and consistent immunisation efforts.
In some counties, such as Isiolo, vaccine uptake remains particularly low. National data reveals that fourteen counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kakamega, and Homa Bay, are home to half of the country’s zero-dose children.
Moving forward, typhoid vaccination will be integrated into the routine immunisation schedule under the Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunisation (KEPI), solidifying its role in long-term public health strategy. This move is expected to further reduce the 126,000 annual typhoid cases and 1,500 deaths linked to the disease, especially among children under 15.
