A total of 21.3 million children have received vaccination against typhoid and measles in the government's latest push to eliminate adverse cases of the two infectious diseases.

In an update on Tuesday, Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said up to 16.1 million children have been vaccinated against typhoid while another 5.8 million have been vaccinated against measles and rubella.

He added: "Over 74,000 zero-dose children who had never received routine immunization were identified and vaccinated, a remarkable milestone in our efforts not to leave anyone behind."

So far, the CS explained, the typhoid vaccine has achieved a national coverage estimated at 84 percent while the measles vaccine is estimated to have covered 81 percent of the target population.

The typhoid vaccine has now been incorporated in Kenya's national vaccination drive to fight drug-resistant forms of the disease, the Ministry of Health said.

Protect child health

Early this month, the Ministry of Health launched a vaccination drive targeting 21 million children with typhoid conjugate jab as authorities step up efforts to protect child health.

The typhoid vaccination drive seeks to reach children aged between nine months and 14 years, while the measles and rubella jab is being administered to children aged between 9 months and 59 months.

Authorities insist that the exercise aims to not only protect against two dangerous diseases, but also to close any gaps in the country's immunization programme which were caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This campaign is not just about vaccines—it’s about giving every child a fair chance at a healthy future,” said CS Duale. “With the emergence of drug-resistant typhoid, we must act fast and decisively.”

The World Health Organization notes that typhoid fever is a disease that is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, an agent that spreads through contaminated food and water.

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