Healthcare workers in Kitui county are racing against time to trace and immunise over 5,000 children who have not been vaccinated to curb child mortality and lifelong diseases.

By October, the county had traced and immunised 23,000 children against a target of 27,000, leading to a massive campaign across villages and remote hotspots to ensure all children get vaccinated.

County Expanded Immunisation Programme (EPI) Logistician Henry Muinde said after the first Covid-19 case was reported in the country last year, routine immunisation coverage dropped due to lockdown and fear of contracting the disease at health facilities.

“Among the immunisation services affected were Human Papillomavirus Vaccination due to closure of schools and measles Rubella vaccination,” said Muinde.

Speaking on the sidelines of a health stakeholder’s forum at Kitui Multi-Purpose Hall at the weekend, Muinde said the Ministry of Health, its partners and stakeholders have developed strategies to accelerate immunisation to optimal coverage among eligible children.

Muinde said the numbers have reduced to 5,000 because of a robust vaccination programme rolled across the county.

“We have trained over 7,500 healthcare workers to facilitate vaccination among children. These trained personnel have helped to reach remote villages and inaccessible terrains to conduct vaccinations,” he said.