Nairobi, Kenya – July 16, 2025

Kenya’s Typhoid Immunization Drive Reaches Over 16 Million Children in Historic Public Health Milestone

In a landmark achievement for public health, Kenya has successfully concluded a nationwide typhoid immunization campaign that has vaccinated over 16.1 million children, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced on Tuesday. The 10-day campaign, which ended on July 15, also delivered measles-rubella vaccines to more than 5.18 million children, achieving 84% coverage for typhoid and 81% for measles-rubella—making it one of the most extensive and impactful immunization drives in the nation’s history.

Among those vaccinated were more than 74,000 “zero-dose” children—children who had never previously received any vaccines. Officials hailed this figure as a major step forward in closing immunization gaps and protecting vulnerable populations.

“This is a proud moment for Kenya,” said CS Duale. “Thanks to the commitment of our health workers, parents, county governments, and international partners, we’ve made great strides in ensuring every child has a chance to grow up healthy and protected.”

As part of the government’s long-term immunization strategy, the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) will now be available free of charge at all public health facilities, making it more accessible to families across the country.

CS Duale also took the opportunity to reaffirm the government’s stance against vaccine misinformation, warning that false claims continue to jeopardize public health efforts. “We urge all Kenyans to rely on verified health sources. Vaccines save lives, and spreading misinformation can cost lives,” he said.

The campaign was supported by a broad coalition of partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and numerous local organizations. Health experts say the campaign sets a strong precedent for future mass immunization efforts in the region.

With this momentum, Kenya moves one step closer to eliminating preventable diseases and strengthening routine immunization coverage—a foundational goal for the country’s universal health care agenda.