In an effort to safeguard the health of the Kenya’s future generation, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF Kenya, World Health Organization, and a consortium of health partners, is embarking on a momentous 5-day vaccination campaign against polio. This l initiative is scheduled to unfold from August 24th to 28th, as a proactive measure to shield children residing in 13 high-risk counties from the perils of this debilitating disease.

The focus of this campaign will first concentrate on four high-risk counties: Garissa, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Nairobi. These regions are at the forefront of an intensive and strategic preparation, aimed at ensuring every child below the age of 5 is reached and protected. The campaign’s first phase is set to commence today, August 24th, targeting the aforementioned counties—Kiambu, Nairobi, Kajiado, and Garissa—with an ambitious target of administering this lifesaving vaccine to approximately 1.8 million young individuals.

Polio, a highly contagious and paralyzing disease, has garnered global attention for its devastating impact on children’s health. However, the power to halt its progression lies within the realm of vaccination, the only preventive measure available.

This campaign will serve as an integral part of Kenya’s continuous journey towards maintaining its polio-free status. Since 2014, the nation has successfully curtailed the circulation of wild poliovirus (WPV), which is a remarkable achievement. Yet, the specter of polio looms due to factors like low immunization coverage and population movement within the Horn of Africa Region.

The method being employed by the Ministry of Health is the house-to-house visits by skilled vaccination teams, equipped to administer the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to children under the age of five. Beyond the clinical aspect, an extensive network of social mobilizers, religious leaders, polio champions, and community monitors has been meticulously trained and dispatched to ensure widespread support and participation within the community.