This archive report was first published on 18 May 2021.
On May 22, 2021, a polio vaccination drive is set to kick off in 13 high-risk counties in Kenya, including Nairobi, Kiambu, and Kitui, among others.
The drive, which aims to reach 95% of the target area, will take place from May 22 to 26, 2021, and will target a total population of approximately 3.4 million children.
According to Mwingi sub-county public health officer Joseph Kimwele, the exercise will be conducted in three ways: house-to-house vaccination, static stations, and mobile teams to cover vast areas.
Kimwele emphasized the importance of ensuring that the targeted community understands the difference between the polio and COVID-19 vaccines to avoid any perceptions of the latter spilling over to the vaccination exercise.
During the meeting, stakeholders also discussed the need for early identification of sudden paralysis in children under 15 years, known as Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance.
Kimwele explained that this timely identification is crucial to help curb the spread of the virus through shedding in patients within two weeks of infection.
