11th October 2024
KPA STATEMENT ON THE ONGOING ORAL POLIO IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN
The Kenya Paediatric Association (KPA) is an independent, non-profit professional organization comprising of paediatricians, clinicians, and allied healthcare workers united in our mission to ensure the health and wellbeing of Kenya’s children and adolescents. Our motto, ‘Afya ya Watoto Wetu’ (The Health of our Children), embodies our collective commitment and rallying call for the national, economic, and social prioritization of child health in Kenya.
The ongoing polio vaccination campaign by the Ministry of Health (MoH) is in response to polio detection in multiple sites in the country: Garissa, Turkana and Nairobi. In June 2024, polio was also isolated from an environmental sample in Mbale, Uganda, which borders western Kenya. Kenya and Uganda are therefore conducting the polio vaccination campaigns concurrently.
The MoH vaccination teams are well trained in handling and administering the oral polio vaccine, maintaining the World Health Organisation safety standards. KPA supports MoH to assure Kenyans that the vaccine is safe for our children. We have developed guidance to address concerns being raised by parents and/or caregivers about the ongoing polio vaccination campaign.
KPA continues to engage with MoH and other stakeholders to ensure quality healthcare for all children in Kenya. We urge all parents and/or caregivers to ensure their eligible children are vaccinated during this campaign.
Dr Dorcas Supa Tunje
National Chairperson
KENYA POLIO IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What is polio?
Polio is a vaccine preventable viral disease with the potential to cause paralysis in young children who are not fully vaccinated. Transmission of polio is feco-oral, meaning that consumption of water contaminated with polio virus can cause polio infection and in some children progress to paralysis. Circulating vaccine derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) has emerged as a public health concern in low-resourced countries with sub-optimal vaccination rates including Kenya.
What are the details about the ongoing polio vaccination activity?
The campaign targets all children aged below five years, and multiple rounds of immunization are needed to achieve elimination of polio. The first round of vaccination was carried out from 2nd to 6th October 2024 in 9 high risk counties: Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, West Pokot, Busia, Bungoma, Machakos. The 2nd round is scheduled for 9th to 13th November 2024.
What are the types of polio vaccine?
There are 2 formulations of the polio vaccine: oral and injectable. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 2 vaccine formulations in National Routine Immunization Schedules of countries where the virus is still circulating. Whenever circulating polio is detected, WHO mandates that the Ministry of Health responds by conducting supplementary polio vaccination of all children under 5 years residing in the areas affected. The vaccine used in this exercise is oral and contains only the specific poliovirus strain reported.
What are the advantages of the oral polio vaccine?
Oral polio vaccine has the advantage of inducing gut immunity and protection for both the immunized child and their contacts.
What is the novel polio vaccine?
The WHO prequalified novel polio vaccine being used in the current campaign is a newer form of the oral polio vaccine, that has been used to conduct campaigns since 2021. It is a safer form of the vaccine that causes less frequent side effects.
Does my child need to be immunized if they are already fully vaccinated against polio?
Yes, in order to achieve full vaccine coverage, all children under 5 years should receive the vaccine.
Are there any adverse side effects associated with receiving multiple doses of the polio vaccine?
No, multiple doses of the vaccine are safe as additional doses of a vaccine act as a booster, making the immune system stronger against the specific infection.
Where and how can you report any suspected side effects from the polio vaccine?
In case of any adverse events following immunization, please either:
- Report to your nearest health facility. The child will be assessed, treated appropriately and the event recorded
- Report using the link: PVERs (https://pv.pharmacyboardkenya.org), or
- Report by dialling the USSD *271#
DR. JUSTUS MAINGI SIMBA MBChB, PhD.
Dr. Elizabeth Kiragu is a Paediatric Allergy Specialist and full time faculty based at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She attended the University of Nairobi and for her undergraduate degree and her Masters in Paediatrics and Child Health. She completed a 2-year Paediatric Allergy fellowship at the University of Cape Town. Dr. Kiragu has established comprehensive allergy services within the Paediatric Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She has a special interest in food allergies, urticaria, asthma and allergy advocacy. She is committed towards advancing allergy care in Kenya at primary care level via presenting on a wide variety of topics at various National and Regional Conferences/Symposiums.
DR. JOY MUYONGA
DR. JUSTUS MAINGI SIMBA MBChB, PhD.
Dr. Barnabas Kigen
DR. JUSTUS MAINGI SIMBA MBChB, PhD.
Dr. Caren Ito Emadau
Affiliation: Machakos County
Fred Were is Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health specializing in Newborn Medicine. He presently holds portfolios of; Dean School of Medicine University of Nairobi (UON), Acting Principal College of Health Sciences (UON), Adjunct Professor of Newborn Medicine at the Aga Khan University (East Africa) and Executive Director/Chief Researcher of The Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium a wing of the Kenya Paediatric Association.
Njeri Wahome delights in all things administration. With over 20 years of experience in operations management in the development sector, Njeri as hands-on experience in strategic planning, financial management, human resources management, administration and logistics planning. She has experience providing technical assistance to NGOs on institutional strengthening for growth and sustainability.
Thomas Ngwiri is Head Clinician at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital since February 2010. He is also Director of the Paediatric endocrinology training centre for Africa (PETCA) – Nairobi which trains paediatricians from sub-Saharan Africa in the field of diabetes and other endocrine disorders. He has been a member of the Kenya Paediatric association executive since 2010 and is the immediate former National Chair of the association.
Dr. Lawrence Okong’o Owino is a lecturer at the department of paediatrics and child health at the University of Nairobi. He is also a consultant paediatrician at the Kenyatta National hospital as well as a consultant paediatrician and rheumatologist for all the major hospitals in Nairobi. He is a pioneer paediatric rheumatologist. His research interests are in the field of musculoskeletal health and immunizations. He has published papers in peer reviewed journals focussing mainly on childhood rheumatic disorders.
MBChB (UoN), MMed (UoN) M.Phil-MCH (UCT)). Dr Osano is a Lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, a consultant Paediatrician cardiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital. He has been the Program Coordinator for the NIH MEPI grant awarded to the University of Nairobi: Strengthening Maternal Newborn Child Health Research Training in Kenya. He has special interest in Maternal Child Health.
Dr. Joe Mbuthia is a graduate of the University of Oxford, with a specialty in Paediatric Infectious Diseases. He is an honorary Lecturer at the Department of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Nairobi as well as a Senior Technical Advisor to the HIV programme – Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium.
Dr. David Githanga is an accomplished medical professional with over 37 years of clinical practice experience. He holds a fellowship of the royal college of physicians of Edinburg (2021, a PhD in Medical Immunology from the University of Nairobi. (2019), Masters in public Health from the University of London (2010), He qualified in paediatric cardiology from the Royal Hospital for sick Children in Glasgow UK (1993), A Diplomate in Child Environmental Health from Athens Greece (2005, a Master’s degree in pediatrics from the University of Nairobi (1990) having obtained his MB,chB from the same University in 1984. Over the years he has demonstrated leadership capability and strategic thinking that has been instrumental in spearheading the growth, development and integration of the Kenya Pediatric Association (KPA) where he served in executive positions for a total period of 19 years.
Dr. Doris M.W. Kinuthia is medical professional with expertise in paediatrics and adolescent medicine, nephrology and HIV. She graduated from the University of Nairobi with medical qualifications MB.Ch.B and M.Med in Paediatrics. She has Certificates in Tropical medicine and Immunology from the same University. She did her fellowship in Paediatric Nephrology at the hospital for Sick Children in Great Ormond Street, London.U.K. She has a post graduate diploma and Master of Business Administration from Sunderland University U.K.
Denish Osodo works at Safaricom Limited as the Internal Audit Director. He has wide and deep experience in Accounting and Audit with along progressive career in Assurance, Governance and Risk Services.
Dr. Makeba Shiroya Wandabwa is a Paediatrician and Public Health Specialist, with a strong health systems background having worked in various capacities to develop child health policies and guidelines, implement and monitor high impact child health interventions at the international, national, sub national and community levels. She has provided technical, strategic, evaluation and operational support for RMNCAH/HIVAIDS health programs funded by USAID, DFID, Global Fund and World Health Organization.
Dr. Kibore received her bachelor’s degree in medicine and her master’s degree in Pediatrics and Child Health both from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, she then went on and completed a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Washington, USA.
Denish Osodo works at Safaricom Limited as the Internal Audit Director. He has wide and deep experience in Assurance, Governance and Risk Services. Prior to joining Safaricom, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for several years, offering audit and business advisory services to Companies in different industries during his stints in Kenya and United Kingdom offices. He left PwC as a Director in the Risk Assurance Services team focusing on the provision of Internal Audit and business Controls Advisory Services to clients across Africa.
AFFILIATIONS: Department of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Nairobi.
AFFILIATIONS: Aga Khan University Nairobi, Kenya.
AFFILIATIONS:
AFFILIATION: Medical services Nairobi City County
AFFILIATIONS: Aga Khan University Hospital
AFFILIATIONS: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kenyatta University.
AFFILIATIONS: Gertrudes Childrens Hospital