Nakuru: The County Government of Nakuru has rolled out a massive vaccination exercise against Monkeypox (Mpox) virus. For the next three weeks, the vaccine would be administered in a phased approach in Maai Mahiu, Longonot and Salgaa areas, targeting high-risk groups.
According to Kenya News Agency, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health services Ms. Roselyn Mungai stated that the exercise will focus on those at highest risk, including people who have had close physical contact with confirmed cases, populations at increased risk such as long-distance truck drivers and sex workers, and healthcare workers who provide direct care to Mpox patients. Ms. Mungai assured members of the public that the vaccine, which has been shown to be up to 82 percent effective in reducing disease severity, transmission, and mortality, was safe.
The CECM emphasized that the roll-out is an important milestone and will serve as an additional public health measure to complement a comprehensive response to the Mpox outbreak as well as other measures already in place. The vaccination programme is being implemented through the collaborative efforts of the Sub-County Health Management Teams, Sub-County AIDS and STI Coordinators (SCASCOs), and healthcare workers, who are not only administering vaccines but also educating communities on Mpox prevention and the importance of seeking care early.
Under the leadership of Governor Susan Kihika, Nakuru County is strengthening disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness, and preventive healthcare while encouraging all eligible residents in the targeted areas to receive the Mpox vaccine at the designated vaccination sites. Ms. Mungai noted that the Mpox vaccination campaign will not target the general population, but will prioritize high-risk groups, stating that the vaccine is part of a comprehensive response to the outbreak.
In addition to vaccination and screening efforts, the County Government’s Department of Health is conducting laboratory tests to identify and isolate new cases and conducting regular contact tracing. The campaign will prioritize truck drivers, cross-border PSV drivers, and sex workers, with vaccination offered at fixed wellness centers strategically located at truck stopovers in Mai Mahiu and Salgaa along the Northern Transport Corridor.
Ms. Mungai highlighted the initiative’s design to protect the most vulnerable groups who are at increased risk of exposure due to the nature of their work and mobility. Mpox was first confirmed in Kenya in 2023, with sporadic cases occurring throughout the year. However, the situation has deteriorated in recent months, requiring a more urgent and coordinated response.
Despite the county’s exposure through a major transport corridor, Nakuru’s Department of Health, working closely with partners, has successfully implemented interventions that have kept case numbers under control. This collaboration underscores the county’s commitment to safeguarding public health through timely response, effective treatment, and multi-sectoral partnerships.
According to Ms. Mungai, as part of the response strategy, the devolved unit has categorized the northern transport corridor as high-risk and operationalized public health emergency operations centers to coordinate response efforts. Targeted interventions for truck drivers, a key mobile population, are being rolled out with structured awareness sessions along key transport corridors, and Community Health Promoters (CHPS) are being incorporated.
High-risk areas along the Northern transport corridor have been mapped with targeted interventions instituted. Surveillance has been enhanced in all sub-counties through both Indicator-Based Surveillance (IBS) and Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) to avert the spread of the disease. Mpox was declared a global public health emergency for the second time in two years in May 2023, following the outbreak’s spread through sexual contact.
Public awareness campaigns on ways of preventing the spread of Mpox are being run by the County, emphasizing the isolation of infected individuals, wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment, and regular handwashing. Residents are urged to ensure meat is thoroughly cooked and to wash clothes and linen regularly. Virus symptoms include high fever, skin rash, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and general body aches.
According to the Africa CDC, two vaccines are currently recommended for use against Mpox: JYNNEOS and ACAM2000, with JYNNEOS being the preferred vaccine for the current outbreak. Vaccination is a known means of prevention against the disease, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with an approved vaccine is recommended for all close contacts of a confirmed case. High-risk populations such as healthcare workers, immunocompromised individuals, and sex workers should also be prioritized for vaccination.
