By Valentine Mumbi
The Ministry of Health hosted a media breakfast in Nairobi on 2nd July 2025, to prepare for the rollout of a nationwide Measles-Rubella and Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Campaign.
The event, led by Dr. Patrick Amoth, the Director-General for Health, aimed to communicate the urgency and importance of the upcoming immunization drive to health communicators and journalists.
The campaign is scheduled to take place from July 5 to July 14 and will target all 47 counties, focusing on vaccinating children aged 9 months to 14 years.
Dr. Amoth explained that the Ministry is working closely with county governments, school administrations and community health volunteers to ensure the success of the campaign.
He pointed out that Kenya is currently witnessing a rise in measles outbreaks, reported in over 23 counties and is also dealing with increasing typhoid infections, especially in densely populated urban areas.
By launching the campaign at this time, the Ministry aims to address immunity gaps and prevent potential widespread outbreaks.
Health officials reported that vaccination coverage has fallen below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity, especially for measles and typhoid. Previous outbreaks have proven that unvaccinated children are at greater risk, prompting the government to act
swiftly.
During the event, Dr. Amoth urged parents and guardians to cooperate and ensure that eligible children receive the vaccines.
He assured the public that all vaccines being used are safe and effective and that trained health workers are administering them according to standard protocols.
The media breakfast served as a platform for engagement, allowing officials to address concerns and dispel myths surrounding vaccinations.
The Ministry emphasized that the campaign is a key step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen primary health care in Kenya.