NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MoH) is investigating reports of adverse reactions to the polio vaccine, which was recently administered as part of a nationwide campaign to combat an outbreak of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2).
In a statement released Thursday, the Ministry acknowledged the unverified reports, assuring the public that a formal response will follow once investigations are complete.
The Ministry’s statement emphasized that while the reports are being taken seriously, they remain unverified. Until a full investigation is conducted, the Ministry urges the public to avoid spreading rumors or misinformation regarding the situation.
“We discourage members of the public from spreading rumours and misinformation until the Ministry issues official information on this matter,” the MoH noted.
This vaccination drive, launched just last week, is a direct response to a recent surge in polio cases in Kenya.
So far, five cases of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 have been confirmed—four of which involved children from the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County, while the fifth came from an environmental sample in Kamukunji, Nairobi.
In light of these findings, the government initiated a large-scale immunization effort aimed at protecting over 3.8 million children under the age of five across nine high-risk counties: Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado.
The Ministry’s statement emphasized that safeguarding public health is its top priority, but also warned against jumping to conclusions without verified data.
As the investigation continues, the Ministry aims to deliver a transparent and detailed update soon.
For now, parents and guardians can rest assured that the nationwide polio campaign is critical to preventing the spread of the virus among vulnerable children.
