Malawi Government sets May 15-21 as Typhoid Vaccination Campaign days

The Ministry of Health has set May 15-21, 2023, as the days it will conduct a Typhoid Vaccination Campaign targeting children from nine months to 15 years.

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The typhoid vaccination campaign follows a successful malaria vaccine campaign, which the Malawi Government is implementing in partnership with PATH Project and other partners.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day media orientation workshop in Salima on Saturday, Deputy Director of Preventive Health in the Ministry of Health, Mavuto Thomas, courted journalists to take a leading role in raising awareness on the immunization campaign.

Thomas said the typhoid vaccination campaign will be implemented alongside the administration of measles and polio vaccines across the country.

Typhoid is an infection caused by Salmonella bacteria. It results from drinking of unsafe water as well as inadequate sanitation and improper handling of food among food handlers.

Its symptoms include a high fever of up to 104ºF, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and vomiting. It can be life threatening if a person does not have early treatment with antibiotics.

According to Thomas, immunization is the only way to prevent the disease.

He therefore urged parents to come forward with their children in order for them to be vaccinated as the ministry will also be giving Vitamin A supplementation to the children during the same period.

The launch for the campaign has been scheduled to take place on 12 May 2023 at Nkhonde Primary School Ground in Balaka.