NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s nationwide vaccination campaign is off to a strong start, with the Ministry of Health announcing that 3.5 million children have already received their measles-rubella (MR) vaccines and another 12.1 million inoculated with the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV). And the momentum is far from over.
In a statement to newsrooms, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed the numbers, noting that the MR figure represents more than half of the 6.5 million children targeted, while the TCV campaign is on track toward its 19.2 million goal.
“Notably, over 4,000 children who had never received a single dose of any vaccine—our zero-dose children—have now been reached,” Duale said. “This is a huge step toward strengthening population immunity and reducing preventable disease outbreaks.”
The Measles-Rubella and TCV campaign, which kicked off on July 5, is being carried out in a multi-pronged strategy involving health facilities, mobile outreach sites, and door-to-door visits. Children are being vaccinated at schools, churches, mosques, markets, and directly in their homes by trained healthcare teams.
And the vaccines? They’re not only WHO-approved but have undergone thorough international and local safety evaluations, Duale emphasized. They’re already in use globally and have proven effective in preventing outbreaks of measles and typhoid—two diseases that can be especially severe among children in low-resource settings.
The Ministry of Health also had a message of gratitude: to parents, caregivers, health workers, religious leaders, and community mobilizers who have made the campaign possible.
“This response shows what Kenya can do when we all come together to protect our children,” the statement read.
TCV, in particular, is being hailed as a game-changer. It offers robust protection against drug-resistant strains of Salmonella Typhi, and it will now be part of Kenya’s routine immunization schedule—administered at 9 months of age across all 47 counties.
That move aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, especially in countries like Kenya where typhoid is endemic and access to clean water and sanitation remains uneven. The vaccine is also recommended for travelers heading into high-risk zones.
And for those concerned about vaccine supply? Duale says: don’t be. The government has learned from recent hiccups, including frustrating shortages earlier this year.
The Treasury has now allocated Ksh 4.9 billion in the 2025/26 financial year specifically for vaccine procurement and administration. The Ministry says this funding will ensure consistent availability moving forward.
So far, so good—now the push is to keep the pace.
