Kisumu rolls out typhoid vaccine in child immunisation drive

Kisumu county has launched a mass immunisation campaign aimed at protecting more than 459,000 children from typhoid fever, one of the region’s most persistent public health concerns.

 The initiative, which began at the Nyalenda Health and Wellness Centre, introduces the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) for the first time in the county.

 The campaign is part of a nationwide effort running from July 5 to 14, targeting children aged nine months to 14 years.

 Health officials say Kisumu records approximately 12,900 cases of typhoid annually, with children under 15 bearing the brunt of the disease.

 “This isn’t just another health campaign—it’s a matter of saving lives,” said County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo during the official launch.

 He noted that over 60 per cent of typhoid-related deaths in Kenya affect children.

 “Here in Kisumu, many suffer silently, some never diagnosed. This vaccine is free, safe and could mean the difference between life and death.”

Leparmorijo called on community leaders, parents, teachers and Nyumba Kumi members to spread awareness and ensure all eligible children are vaccinated during the campaign window.

 The vaccine, now part of Kenya’s national immunisation schedule and endorsed by the World Health Organization, is being offered alongside the Measles-Rubella vaccine for children aged nine to 59 months.

 In Kisumu alone, this adds another 159,000 children to the immunisation effort.

 According to Health CEC Gregory Ganda, the introduction of TCV represents a crucial step in tackling typhoid, especially given the challenges in accurate diagnosis.

 “Many health centres rely on rapid diagnostic kits that often give misleading results,” Ganda said.

 He added, “We need prevention more than ever and this vaccine gives us that chance.”

 The county health boss encouraged parents to ensure their children receive both TCV and Measles-Rubella vaccines to build long-term protection.

 Florence Akech, the county’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation Coordinator, confirmed that 156 fixed vaccination sites have been established across all eight subcounties.

  Mobile outreach teams are also active in schools, churches, markets and even funerals to reach more children.

 “We’ve seen that children under 15 are most at risk. Typhoid has claimed too many young lives already,” she said. “After this campaign, TCV will be administered routinely at nine months of age. We want every caregiver to know where and how to access it.”

 To boost turnout, community health volunteers have been deployed to provide door-to-door education, answer questions  and direct families to the nearest vaccination sites.

 Akech added that the campaign is also an opportunity to recover ground lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted routine immunisations and left many children unprotected.

 The Kisumu campaign is supported by WHO, UNICEF, Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance, PATH, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the Kenya Red Cross Society, marking one of the most coordinated health drives in recent years.

 To build public confidence, the first child to receive the vaccine at the launch was the daughter of a nurse from the Nyalenda facility vaccinated in front of county and national leaders.