Busia Targets Over 300,000 Children Under 10 for Second Polio Vaccination.

Busia: Parents in Busia County have been urged to ensure their children aged 10 years and below stay at home for the next five days so that they could benefit from the second phase of mass polio vaccination. Speaking to the press during the official launch of the exercise at Busia Polytechnic grounds on Friday, the County Director for Universal Health, David Mukabi, emphasized that the vaccine must be taken in two doses to be effective. According to Kenya News Agency, Mukabi stated that during the first phase, over 300,000 children were reached, and a similar number is expected in the second phase. He highlighted that those vaccinated during the first phase in September would receive their second dose, while those who missed out would receive a single dose. Mukabi further explained that children who missed the first dose could receive their second dose at local health facilities after four weeks. Mukabi noted that the turnout for the first phase was positive in most parts of the county, except for Butula an d Bunyala Sub-counties, which faced some challenges. Efforts are ongoing to educate parents about the vaccine's importance and engage the community in understanding the significance of the immunization exercise. The September mass polio immunization exercise revealed that 133 children under 10 had never been immunized against polio, posing a significant health risk to the population.