MoH to begin third round of polio vaccination in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced that it will be conducting the third round of polio vaccination campaign targeting Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties.

MoH will be working in partnership with county governments and other partners to prevent further transmission of the disease after a recent outbreak.

“The current polio outbreak is attributed to importation from a neighboring country and suboptimal routine immunization coverages in several counties, putting all children at risk of polio disease," said Health Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muriuki in a statement on Saturday.

The vaccination was planned for November 2023 but was postponed due to the heavy rainfall experienced in the three counties.

The campaign is therefore scheduled to begin on January 27 to January 31, 2024, targeting 755,011 children under 5 years and an additional 238,447 children aged between 5 and 15 years in Fafi and Dadaab sub-counties and all refugee camps in Garissa.

PS Muriuki added that the campaign targets the three counties since they have been identified as high-risk.

MoH has urged parents and caregivers to avail the children to the vaccination teams during the campaign, assuring that the vaccines being issued are safe and effective.

In addition, parents and caregivers have been encouraged to ensure that children under the age of 5 years are up to date with their immunization.

The general public and parents are advised to report any child under the age of 15 years who is displaying a sudden onset of weakness of hands or legs or both to the nearest health facility.

“Additionally, the public is reminded that polio disease spreads through the fecal-oral route. Therefore, it is crucial to use toilets to properly dispose of human waste and practice proper hand hygiene measures,” said Muriuki.

Any reports can be made through the hotlines 0729471414 or 0732353535.