Kenya launches second phase of mass polio vaccination to curb outbreak

Kenya's Ministry of Health has rolled out the second phase of a mass polio vaccination campaign, set to run from February 21 to 25, 2025, in high-risk counties.

The move follows the detection of a polio case near the Kenya-Ethiopia border in October 2024, prompting urgent measures to prevent further spread.

The campaign will cover Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera, targeting 176,949 children under 11 years in Marsabit and 651,252 children under five in the other counties.

Health officials emphasise that ensuring every child is vaccinated is critical to stopping the virus.

"We urge all parents and caregivers to ensure that their children receive this vaccine, regardless of previous doses," said Principal Secretary for Health Mary Muthoni in a statement released on Friday

The Ministry has also announced a third vaccination phase will be conducted in April 2025 to reinforce immunity in the same counties, which are considered highly vulnerable due to low routine immunisation rates and cross-border movement.

The Ministry of Health is working closely with Ethiopia and Somalia to synchronise immunization efforts, given the high movement of people across borders.

The previous campaign in December 2024 was successfully coordinated with neighbouring countries, and similar efforts will be made for the upcoming rounds.

"Any confirmed polio case indicates the possibility of hundreds more unreported cases," Muthoni warned. "This is why a robust public health response, including enhanced surveillance and mass immunization, is necessary to curb the spread."

Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause paralysis or even death. It spreads through person-to-person contact, mainly affecting children under five years old. The disease is characterised by acute flaccid paralysis, often without any prior injury or trauma.

Kenya's routine immunization schedule includes at least three doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and one dose of the injectable polio vaccine (IPV) for children under five. However, gaps in coverage, particularly in remote and border regions, pose a risk of resurgence.

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