KENYA— The Ministry of Health has announced the launch of a nationwide polio vaccination campaign set to take place from October 2nd to 6th, 2024.

This initiative is a direct response to a recent outbreak of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Type 2 (cVDPV2) identified in Kenya.

The upcoming campaign is part of Round 1 of the Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) orchestrated by the Ministry of Health, with technical support from the Polio Global Eradication Initiative and the World Health Organization (WHO).

So far this year, five cases of cVDPV2 have been confirmed in the country, including four children from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County and one positive environmental surveillance sample in Kamukunji Sub-County, Nairobi.

As a result of these developments, the Ministry has undertaken rapid vaccination campaigns over the past year, successfully vaccinating millions of children against polio.

The vaccination effort aims to reach over 3.8 million children under five across nine high-risk counties: Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Turkana, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Kiambu, Machakos, and Kajiado.

Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms. Mary M. Muriuki, emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating polio during a media stakeholders’ briefing held today in Nairobi.

She highlighted the vital role played by over 107,000 Community Health Promoters in ensuring the success of this campaign, urging parents and caregivers in the targeted counties to ensure their children receive the necessary vaccinations.

Vaccine-derived poliovirus is a known strain that has mutated from the original strain present in the oral polio vaccine (OPV).

This vaccine contains a live, weakened form of the poliovirus, which replicates in the intestine for a limited time, promoting immunity through the development of antibodies.

However, on rare occasions, when the OPV strain replicates in the gastrointestinal tract, it can undergo genetic changes and spread within communities that have not been fully vaccinated against polio.

 This situation is particularly prevalent in areas suffering from poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation, and overcrowding.

The lower the population’s immunity, the longer the vaccine-derived poliovirus can survive, allowing for further genetic mutations.

This polio vaccination campaign coincides with the Social Health Authority (SHA) rollout on October 1st, 2024.

 This initiative aims to provide sustainable healthcare financing as part of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.

In a related meeting, Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Barasa urged counties to actively implement the SHA to guarantee universal health coverage across the nation.

Speaking at the conclusion of a sensitization workshop for County Executive Committee members in Mombasa, she presented the SHA as a viable solution to the ongoing challenge of inaccessible healthcare stemming from financial barriers.

Furthermore, Dr. Barasa stressed the importance of prioritizing public awareness, digitization, and adequate staffing within the healthcare system.

 She called for the establishment of SHA help desks in all health facilities to address public inquiries, particularly as the rollout date approaches.

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