Health officials assure public of polio vaccine safety amid negative effects fear
Nominated Senator Harold Kipchumba administers a polio vaccine to a child. Ministry of Health assured families that the polio vaccine is safe, rigorously tested by various agencies and is the same as the one administered at public and faith-based hospitals. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
The five-day countrywide campaign targets 8.7 million children under five.
Mr Kipchumba, who is also the polio ambassador in Kenya, said the door- to-door immunisation drive was part of the United Nations efforts of eradicating the disease by 2018.
This comes after the successful eradication of smallpox in 1977.
The Health ministry has allayed fears over the new polio vaccine.
This comes after some reports claimed the vaccine had negative effects.
In a speech read on his behalf by nominated Senator Harold Kipchumba, the outgoing director of Medical Services, Dr Nicholas Muraguri, said the vaccine is similar to the one usually given at public and faith-based hospitals.
Mr Kipchumba read the speech during the national launch of the polio vaccination campaign at Miharati grounds in Kipipiri Constituency, Nyandarua County.
The five-day countrywide campaign targets 8.7 million children under five.
Mr Kipchumba, who is also the polio ambassador in Kenya, said the door- to-door immunisation drive was part of the United Nations efforts of eradicating the disease by 2018.
This comes after the successful eradication of smallpox in 1977.
“The immunisation strategy is meant to ensure that we protect all children against polio by giving them a lifesaving jab,” said Dr Muraguri.
RIGOROUS TESTING
He said the vaccine had been tested by authorised therapeutic agencies and called on parents to take their children for the jab.
During the well-attended launch, Nyandarua Governor Daniel Waithaka said he was working closely with the national government to ensure better health services for residents.
The devolved unit, he explained, had spent more than Sh1.2 billion since 2013 in the expansion of health institutions, purchase of ambulances, supply of drugs and hiring of health workers.
Tremendous strides
Kipipiri MP Samuel Gichigi defended counties in their handling of the devolved function, saying they should be given more time to prove their capabilities.
The lawmaker told off individuals calling for the health service to revert to the national government.
Unicef health specialist Leila Abrar said Kenya had made tremendous strides in eradicating polio.
