Kenyans urged to ignore falsehoods and misinformation about the polio vaccine

Kiambu Director of health Dr. Hillary Kagwa Gichuki has strongly dismissed rumours and misinformation peddled around about the polio immunisation programme by assuring Kenyans that the vaccines were safe and qualified by the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.).

While speaking during a stakeholder’s sensitisation forum on the rollout of the 2nd round of the Polio Immunisation Campaign that is happening across nine counties in Kenya, Dr. Kagwa said that this was a novel vaccine, save for very isolated cases of children developing side effects due to genetic makeup which were rather manageable and in most cases fizzled out by themselves.

“There is a lot of misinformation about the polio vaccine. The vaccines have been qualified by W.H.O. and certified to be safe. What usually happens are adverse effects following immunisation which can happen in any vaccine or drug because of our different genetic makeup,” he explained.

He added that following the discovery of several polio cases in some parts of Nairobi, the immunisation campaign would be conducted in all the seven sub-counties of Kiambu surrounding the capital city.

“We are targeting about 300,000 children below 5 years. Those vaccinated in the first phase in October are eligible for this second round to boost their immunity,” said Kagwa.

Stakeholders led by Ephantus Maina Muriithi and Lucy Waiharo emphasised the importance of the exercise, encouraging parents and guardians to bring their children for immunisation.