As Kenya’s nationwide immunization campaign approaches its conclusion on Monday, July 14, 2025, the Ministry of Health is urging parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) and the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine.
The call comes amid lagging vaccination rates and persistent concerns from some parents about vaccine safety.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has moved to allay these fears, reaffirming the safety and effectiveness of both vaccines. “Vaccination is safe, effective, and life-saving,” he said, emphasizing that both the MR and TCV vaccines are approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and have passed rigorous international and local safety reviews.
In a clear warning against misinformation, Duale stressed the importance of relying on credible sources. “We urge all Kenyans to seek accurate information from trusted sources such as the Ministry of Health, health professionals, and accredited partners,” he said. “Misinformation puts lives at risk.”
The Ministry has noted that rumors and falsehoods circulating on social media have contributed to vaccine hesitancy in some communities, threatening efforts to protect children from preventable diseases.
The current campaign, which began ten days ago, was extended to schools, churches, mosques, markets, and other community locations in a bid to reach as many children as possible. However, uptake remains below expectations.
In a statement issued on July 12, 2025, the Ministry of Health revealed that only just over half of the targeted child population has been reached so far.
“So far, 3.5 million children have received the Measles-Rubella vaccine, out of a target of 6.5 million, while 12.1 million children have received the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine, falling short of the 19.2 million goal,” read part of the statement.
Despite these numbers, the Ministry highlighted a key success of the campaign: the immunization of over 4,000 “zero-dose” children, those who had never received any vaccines before. This milestone, officials say, significantly boosts population immunity and underscores the importance of sustained outreach.
The eligibility criteria for the vaccines remain clearly defined. The TCV is administered to children aged 9 months to 14 years, while the MR vaccine targets children between 9 and 59 months.
These age-specific interventions are part of Kenya’s broader effort to strengthen routine immunization and prevent outbreaks of typhoid, measles, and rubella diseases that continue to pose serious health risks to unvaccinated children.
As the campaign nears its final day, the Ministry of Health is urging every parent and caregiver not to miss this critical opportunity. “The Ministry urges all caregivers to act now,” Duale reiterated, underlining the urgency of reaching the remaining unvaccinated children.
With time running out, the government hopes that this final push, backed by accurate information and community mobilization, will close the gap and ensure every eligible child is protected.
