The County Government of Nakuru has rolled out a massive vaccination exercise against Monkeypox (Mpox) virus.
For the next three weeks, the vaccine would be administered in a phased approach in Maai Mahiu, Longonot and Salgaa areas, targeting high-risk groups.
According to County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health services Ms Roselyn Mungai, the exercise will focus on those at highest risk, including people who have had close physical contact with confirmed cases, populations at increased risk such as long-distance truck drivers and sex workers and healthcare workers who provide direct care to Mpox patients.
Ms Mungai assured members of the public that the vaccine, which has been shown to be up to 82 percent effective in reducing disease severity, transmission and mortality, was safe.
The CECM said the roll-out is an important milestone and will serve as an additional public health measure to complement a comprehensive response to the Mpox outbreak as well as other measures already in place..
The vaccination programme is being implemented through the collaborative efforts of the Sub-County Health Management Teams, Sub-County AIDS and STI Coordinators (SCASCOs) and healthcare workers, who are not only administering vaccines but also educating communities on Mpox prevention and the importance of seeking care early.
“Under the leadership of Governor Susan Kihika, Nakuru County continues to strengthen disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and preventive healthcare, while encouraging all eligible residents in the targeted areas to receive the Mpox vaccine at the designated vaccination sites,” stated the CECM.
She added “The Mpox vaccination campaign will not target the general population, but will prioritize high-risk groups. This vaccine is not a silver bullet, but one of several public health measures being used as part of a comprehensive response to the outbreak. It complements our broader efforts to contain and manage Mpox in Kenya.”
In addition to vaccination and screening efforts, the County Government’s Department of Health is conducting laboratory tests to identify and isolate new cases and conducting regular contact tracing.
“The campaign will prioritize truck drivers, cross-border PSV drivers and sex workers, with vaccination offered at fixed wellness centers strategically located at truck stopovers in Mai Mahiu and Salgaa along the Northern Transport Corridor,” disclosed Ms Mungai.
The CECM said the initiative is designed to protect the most vulnerable groups who are at increased risk of exposure due to the nature of their work and mobility.
Mpox was first confirmed in Kenya in 2023, with sporadic cases occurring throughout the year. However, the situation has deteriorated in recent months, requiring a more urgent and coordinated response.
Ms Mungai stated that despite the county’s exposure through a major transport corridor, Nakuru’s Department of Health, working closely with partners, has successfully implemented interventions that have kept case numbers under control.
“This collaboration underscores the county’s commitment to safeguarding public health through timely response, effective treatment and multi-sectoral partnerships,” she affirmed.
She said that the County Government has activated its Health Department’s Disease Surveillance and Response Unit (DSRU) to coordinate response against the Mpox virus and stop spread of the disease in the devolved unit.
According to Ms Mungai, as part of the response strategy, the devolved unit has categorized the northern transport corridor as high-risk and operationalized public health emergency operations centres to coordinate response efforts.
“We are working on targeted interventions for truck drivers, a key mobile population, rolling out structured awareness sessions along key transport corridors. This initiative is incorporating Community Health Promoters (CHPS),” the official pointed out.
She added “Eight (8) high-risk areas along the Northern transport corridor have been mapped and targeted interventions instituted. All healthcare workers and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) have been alerted. Surveillance has been enhanced in all the sub-counties. The County is using both Indicator-Based Surveillance (IBS) and Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) to avert spread of the disease.”
The declaration of Mpox as a global public health emergency is the second in two years. In July 2022, WHO announced the first, following a multi-country outbreak of Mpox, which was spreading swiftly through sexual contact and in countries that had never recorded prior cases. In May 2023, the global health emergency was declared to be over, following a steady decline in global cases.
Ms Mungai said the County was running public awareness campaigns on ways of preventing the spread of Mpox which requires isolation of individuals diagnosed with Mpox from both humans and animals. Infected individuals and those caring for them are expected to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including surgical masks and disposable gloves, to minimize the risk of transmission, and regular handwashing with soap and water, along with the proper disinfection of contaminated surfaces.
She urged residents to ensure meat is thoroughly cooked and to wash their clothes and linen regularly.
Virus symptoms include high fever, skin rash, headache, swollen lymph nodes and general body aches. The virus can spread through contact with a sick person and respiratory droplets.
According to the Africa CDC, two vaccines are currently recommended for use against Mpox: JYNNEOS and ACAM2000. JYNNEOS is the preferred vaccine for the current outbreak of Mpox. It is a two-dose vaccine series, administered four weeks apart for maximum effectiveness. A vaccine recipient is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose.
“The JYNNEOS vaccine does not cause Mpox, smallpox, or any significant adverse reaction. Indications for the vaccine include known and presumed contacts of a case of Mpox and queer individuals who have had multiple sexual partners in the last 14 days.” says Africa CDC.
“Vaccination is a known means of prevention against the disease. Africa CDC recommends post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with the approved vaccine for all close contacts of a confirmed case. Close contacts include those living in the same household or those who had sex with the case including kissing, hugging and cuddling, sharing of utensils, towels and bedding, or coming in contact with or touching the rashes on the body of the case,” says Africa CDC.
It adds: “High-risk populations such as healthcare workers, immunocompromised individuals and sex workers should also be prioritized for vaccination as mass vaccination is not currently recommended for Mpox.”
By Jane Ngugi and Caroline Nyakio
