NAIROBI, Kenya — Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has hailed Kenya’s just-concluded national vaccination campaign as a landmark success, with over 16.1 million children reached in a sweeping 10-day drive against Typhoid and Measles-Rubella.
The campaign, one of the largest in the country’s history, achieved 84 per cent national coverage for the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV), while inoculating more than 5.18 million children against Measles and Rubella — translating to 81 per cent of the target population.
“Significantly, over 74,000 zero-dose children — those who had never received any routine immunisation — were identified and vaccinated,” said CS Duale. “This is a remarkable milestone in our effort to leave no child behind.”
The CS announced that the Typhoid vaccine will now be incorporated into Kenya’s routine immunisation schedule and will be available free of charge at all designated public health facilities.
He urged continued public support for immunisation efforts, warning against vaccine misinformation.
“We urge all Kenyans to seek information about vaccines from trusted and credible sources. Together, we can ensure that every child in Kenya grows up healthy, protected, and ready to thrive.”
Duale also extended the Ministry’s gratitude to all stakeholders who made the campaign possible, including parents, health workers, county governments, and education officials.
He further acknowledged support from key global health partners such as Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, PATH, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Kenya Red Cross, AMREF, and the Polio Core Group.
The Ministry of Education was particularly praised for enabling seamless access to schools, which served as critical vaccination sites during the campaign.
With the integration of the Typhoid vaccine into routine services and the progress made in reaching unvaccinated children, the Ministry says Kenya is now better positioned to combat vaccine-preventable diseases and safeguard the health of future generations.
