Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced a comprehensive 10-day national vaccination campaign for the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) and the Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccine, aiming to significantly boost immunity among Kenyan children.
The MoH said that they integrated both vaccines for enhanced efficiency and optimal use of resources, and is set to run from July 5th to July 14th, 2025.
Dr. Rose Jalango, Head of the National Vaccine and Immunization Program (NVIP), highlighted the strategic integration of the two vaccines.
“Integrating Measles-Rubella and Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine allows us to enhance efficiencies and make the best use of our limited resources,” Dr. Jalango said.
The ambitious campaign targets vaccinating at least 80 percent of 21.5 million children aged 9 months to 14 years with the TCV. Concurrently, it aims to reach at least 95 percent of 7.5 million children aged 9 months to 5 years with the MR vaccine.
Dr. Issak Bashir, Director of Family Health at the MoH, confirmed that the 10-day campaign will commence on Saturday, July 5th, 2025, and will be conducted nationwide across all health facilities and schools. Children aged 9 months to 14 years will receive the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine, while those between 9 months and 5 years will receive the Measles-Rubella vaccine.
In a show of support and a call for collaboration, Linus Digai of the Interreligious Council urged vaccine experts and the Ministry of Health to equip religious leaders with accurate vaccine information. This, he emphasized, would enable them to effectively disseminate correct information to their congregants, thereby dispelling misinformation and addressing vaccine hesitancy.
Dr. Supa Tunje, President of the Kenya Paediatrics Association (KPA), underscored the critical importance of typhoid vaccination, describing it as the “second most cost-effective intervention after clean water.” She affirmed KPA’s full support for the MoH’s efforts in ensuring all children receive necessary vaccinations.
Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General of the MoH, announced that the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) has been officially introduced and integrated into the routine vaccination schedule, bringing the total number of routine vaccinations to 15. Dr. Amoth expressed concern over the alarming statistic of 30,000 “zero-dose children” in Kenya annually, emphasizing the urgent need for action to reverse this trend.
Understanding Typhoid Disease and the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV)
Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine that offers high protection against drug-resistant Salmonella Typhi.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends TCV for children aged 6 months and older in typhoid-endemic areas and high-risk populations in regions with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water, as well as for travelers to areas where typhoid disease is common.
According to the MoH, TCV will be routinely provided in all immunizing facilities across Kenya’s 47 counties at 9 months of age. The ministry also stressed that proper food handling, hygiene practices – including handwashing with soap and water, using safe water sources, and boiling or treating food and beverages – play a significant role in typhoid prevention. TCV can be safely administered concurrently with other childhood vaccines.
Frequently Asked Questionsand Answers(Q&As) about Typhoid Disease
Q:What is Typhoid Disease?
A:Typhoid is a serious bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi. It spreads through contaminated food and water and can lead to high fever, weakness, stomach pain, and other symptoms. Without treatment, it can be fatal.
Q:Who is Most Affected by Typhoid Disease?
A:Everyone is at risk, particularly children under 15 years old. Typhoid disproportionately affects children in Sub-Saharan Africa, with poor communities being the most susceptible.
Q:How Does Typhoid Disease Spread? Typhoid spreads via the fecal-oral route through A:contaminated food and water, often due to unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene habits.
Q:Why is there an Increased Risk for Typhoid Disease?
A:Increasing drug resistance, climate change, and urbanization heighten the risk for typhoid outbreaks worldwide.
Q:What are the Risk Factors for Typhoid Disease?
A:Typhoid risk is highest in settings with poor sanitation and hygiene, and unsafe water. Environmental and social factors such as overcrowding, natural disasters, and climate change put children in endemic and emergency settings at the highest risk.
Q:How Can Safe Water and Sanitation Protect Against Typhoid?
By safely separating waste from water sources used for drinking, cooking, washing, or swimming, and by ensuring water is treated and free from contamination, we can help prevent the spread of typhoid and many other diseases.
