The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Department of Health, Busia County, targets to immunize 495,805 children in the forthcoming mass vaccination campaign on measles rubella and typhoid conjugal slated for July 5th to 14th this year.
Speaking during a stakeholder sensitization forum at Busia County Referral Hospital on Wednesday, the County Health Promotion Officer, Nelson Andanje, said that the measles-rubella vaccine will be administered to a total of 114,758 children aged between nine months to 59 months, while TCV will be administered to 381,042 children aged between nine months and 14 years.
“The vaccination exercise will be conducted in all the public and private health facilities, churches, mosques, and markets,” he said, adding that some mobile stations will also be available.
Andanje stated that the initiative was arrived at following reports of sporadic episodes across the country.
He further explained that the vaccines will be administered to all the targeted children irrespective of whether they have adhered to the immunization schedule fully since they were born.
The official urged stakeholders to support the exercise by sensitizing the local community on the importance and safety of the vaccines.
Busia County Immunization Coordinator Juliet Kilima explained that in case of severe side effects, they should be reported to the nearby health facility.
Kilima noted that a number of young mothers leave their children with the elderly people who eventually fail to take them for immunization.
“We also want to urge the schools to involve the health department during the enrollment of early childhood learners so that we can verify their vaccination status,” she said.
She further said that routine vaccination of children will continue in the various public health facilities after the 10-day mass vaccination exercise.
Nationally, the government targets to vaccinate 95% -7.5 million children aged between 9 months and 59 months on Measles Rubella 80%-19.2 million children aged between 9 months and 14 years for TCV.
Busia County Health Promotion Officer Nelson Andanje sensitize stakeholders on Measles Rubella and Typhoid Conjugal Vaccines in readiness for mass vaccination of 495,805 children slated for July 5th to 14th this year.
By Salome Alwanda
