Lodwar, 7th November 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

Turkana County is in the midst of a five-day campaign to vaccinate over 500,000 children against polio. The campaign, which runs from November 6th to 13th, 2024, aims to reach over 500,000 children under the age of ten. This round of vaccinations follows an initial round conducted in October, which saw over 400,000 children receive the polio vaccine.

The vaccination campaign is a response to a polio case that was recently confirmed  in both Turkana and Nairobi counties, as well as a confirmed outbreak in neighboring Uganda. 

To ensure the success of the campaign, local officials are actively engaging with community stakeholders to address concerns and combat misinformation about the vaccine. Meetings have been held with religious organizations, community leaders, the business community and youth groups. During these meetings, health officials emphasized the safety and effectiveness of the polio vaccine. They reassured the public that any side effects are typically mild and not life-threatening.

Daniel Erus, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) coordinator, urged parents and caregivers to report any side effects to the nearest health facility. Erus also highlighted that the vaccines have undergone rigorous testing and are approved by the World Health Organization.

Community leaders have pledged their support for the campaign. Rev. James Louren, Chair of the Lodwar Pastors Fellowship, said religious leaders are committed to encouraging their congregations to participate in the vaccination effort. Similar meetings with stakeholders are being conducted in all sub-counties to ensure widespread understanding and acceptance of the polio vaccination campaign.