City Health Team Vaccinates Learners Against Common Illnesses

Hundreds of learners across Nairobi have received vital vaccinations this week as the County Health Department launched a school-based immunization drive aimed at reducing outbreaks of preventable childhood illnesses. The campaign, carried out by Nairobi City County’s public health officers and community health promoters, targets primary and ECDE pupils in all 17 sub-counties. According to officials, the exercise focuses on immunising learners against measles, tetanus, polio, and other common infections that have shown rising case numbers in densely populated school environments.
The initiative follows recent county health assessments that highlighted gaps in immunisation coverage among school-going children, particularly in informal settlements such as Mathare, Mukuru, and Kibera. To address these gaps, mobile vaccination teams have been dispatched to schools, ensuring that learners who missed routine immunisations receive them without parents incurring transportation costs. Teachers have been trained to assist health teams with learner registration, consent collection, and record tracking.
Parents have welcomed the drive, noting significant relief as many struggled to access clinics due to work schedules and rising transport costs. School administrators also praised the county for preventing potential disease outbreaks, especially with the rainy season increasing risks of infection. Health officers reported smooth progress, with some schools recording over 95% turnout in the first day of the campaign.
Looking ahead, the county plans to institutionalise school-based vaccination as an annual exercise, coupled with expanded health education sessions on hygiene, nutrition, and early disease detection. Officials say the long-term goal is to ensure that every child in Nairobi completes their immunisation schedule and learns in a safe, healthy environment.