Judul : Kenya Introduces Typhoid Vaccination in Routine Immunization Calendar
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Kenya Introduces Typhoid Vaccination in Routine Immunization Calendar
By Duncan Mboyah
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has for the first time introduced typhoid vaccination for children in routine immunization calendar.
According to the Ministry, the new policy will help ensure that children aged nine 7months and above are vaccinated regularly to keep off being infected by typhoid virus.
The announcement was made during the launch of an integrated Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) and Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign aimed at protecting 15 million children against measles – rubella and typhoid in Nairobi.
The new routine immunization will now be conducted at the same time that measles, rubella and yellow fever vaccinations are done in the coming vaccination calendar in the country.
The announcement comes at a time when typhoid fever burden ranges between 11 million and 21 million cases with approximately 117,000 to 161,000 deaths reported annually internationally.
“The vaccinations will be conducted in health facilities, schools and markets all over the country,” the Director General of Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth said.
Dr. Amoth added that the campaign is a bold commitment to the children’s future, a shared investment in health, equity, and prosperity for generations to come.
He observed that the immunization lies at the heart of preventive health that targets at saving lives, averting disease, and ensuring every Kenyan, regardless of where they live, has access to protection.
Dr. Amoth said that typhoid fever remains a persistent and entirely preventable burden since it affects over 100,000 cases annually in Kenya.
The fever, he added, affects mostly children who live in informal settlements and communities without clean water and sanitation.
Dr. Amoth noted that the vaccine marks a turning point since with a single dose, the typhoid conjugate vaccine provides up to five years of protection.
The official said that cases of measles and rubella are also a resurging threat, particularly following disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He revealed that between January 2024 and February this year alone, Kenya confirmed 2,949 measles cases and 18 deaths which could have been prevented.
“Despite having free and available vaccines, our immunization coverage remains below target at 83 percent for the first measle and rubella dose, and just 60 percent for the second,” Dr. Amoth added.
He observed that to interrupt transmission and prevent outbreaks, Kenya must reach 95 percent coverage for both.
Dr. Amoth said that the typhoid vaccination campaign will henceforth be integrated into Kenya’s routine immunization schedule and will be administered at 9 months, alongside measles, rubella and yellow fever vaccines in relevant regions.
The integration, he said, will institutionalize prevention, strengthening the resilience of the country’s primary healthcare system.
According to Kenya Demographic Survey of 2019, typhoid fever threatens public health concern with an estimated 126,000 cases and 1,568 deaths annually.
This increase is attributed to rising drug resistance, climate change, and urbanization that raises the urgency for prevention.
The Ministry of Health expects that the vaccination will achieve the country’s target of reaching at least 80 percent coverage of the targeted 7.5 million children and 2.1 million surviving infants with TCB.
There is also expectation that the vaccination will help meet 95 percent coverage of 2.1 million surviving infants and 7.5 million children aged 9-59 months with MR vaccine in the campaign.
This will only be achieved if there are improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene measures to prevent typhoid from spreading.
The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Aden Duale, said during the launch that children aged between 9 months to 14 years will be vaccinated with TCV and nine to 59 months with the MR vaccines.
Duale noted that the integration of TCV and MR campaign shows that efficiency and innovations aligning with the government goals.
“Studies have shown that vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect children against measles and rubella, and preventing long term complications such as brain damage, blindness and hearing loss,” he added.
According to Dr. Dorcas Tunje, President of Kenya Pediatric Association, hailed the introduction of TCV into Kenya’s routine immunization programme adding that it is a critical step forward in protecting children from preventable diseases.
Dr. Tunje said that high immunization coverage reduces outbreaks, protects the most vulnerable and supports national development by ensuring children grow healthy.
The officials assured Kenyans of the safety of the vaccines and appealed to parents and guardians to avail the children for vaccination.
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