Over 27,000 healthcare workers in Kakamega, Siaya, Nakuru and Mombasa counties are targeted for vaccination against influenza in phase two of the pilot programme.
The Influenza vaccination which has been launched in Kakamega county today and will run until September 19, 2025 targets Doctors, Nurses, clinical officers and subordinate staff who come into contact with patients.
According to the Kakamega county Chief Officer in charge of medical Services, David Allilah, the vaccination is necessary to control possible spread of influenza virus from healthcare workers to patients and vice versa.
Influenza is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system. It can lead to hospitalisation and even death, especially in severe cases or among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children under five, people above 65 years and those with chronic illnesses.
This year’s vaccination will be the second phase after the first phase was carried out in 2023 achieving 88 per cent in Kakamega county.
The Chief Officer for public health Rose Muhanda noted that they want to achieve 100 per cent vaccination to enable the government to include it in the national vaccination programme.
“I am encouraging all our healthcare workers from the community level to be vaccinated because most of the time we are the first contact with our patients. We want to prevent infection from the healthcare providers or infection from patients to the healthcare provider,” she explained.
Dr Eric Osoro of Washington State Global Health Kenya said they are supporting the county government of Kakamega in the influenza vaccination programme in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
He noted that the Ministry of Health recommends Influenza, Hepatitis B and Typhoid vaccination for healthcare workers because of the nature of their work.
“This time we are talking about Influenza vaccination. Although it has been in the policy, it has not been rolled out to the rest of the country. As part of planning for rollout, we are undertaking this exercise in four counties to learn more on how the vaccine can be rolled out to the rest of the country,” he explained.
He said the influenza vaccination exercise is supposed to be conducted annually.
By Moses Wekesa
