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June 14, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Kenya: Government Targets 13 Million Children in Measles Jab" Africa News Service (www.allafrica.com) (06/13/02)

Kenya's health ministry wants to reach a 95 percent uptake during this month's six-day measles vaccine catch-up program, which is being funded by groups including UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and the Department of Infectious Diseases.  In particular, the Kenya Expanded Program for Immunization (Kepi), which will also include polio immunization and vitamin A injections for at least 3.8 million children, will focus on the high-risk regions bordering other countries, including Malindi, Mombasa and Kilifi in Coast Province.  Between 2000 and 2001, measles cases jumped from 7,257 to 11,200, nearly matching 1998 record of 11,382 cases.  So far this year, 5,166 cases of measles have been recorded, mostly among children under age 15, according to Kepi Data Manager Mwaura Kiongo.

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