Free childhood vaccines and the immunisation schedule
Ministry of Health · sources read 1 Oct 2026
Take your child to any public health facility for vaccines, which are free: BCG and polio at birth, polio again at 6, 10 and 14 weeks, then measles and typhoid at 9 months. Every child under 5 should be up to date.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Any public health facility (hospital, health centre or dispensary) or a Ministry of Health outreach site
What you need
- Your child's clinic card (Child Welfare Card), which tracks the vaccines
Steps
- At birth: your baby gets BCG (against TB) and the first polio dose.
- At 6, 10 and 14 weeks: go back to the clinic for the next polio doses.
- At 9 months: measles vaccine.
- Also at 9 months: one dose of the typhoid vaccine (TCV).
- In malaria-vaccine areas: 4 doses at 6, 7, 9 and 24 months. Complete all four.
Watch out
- Don't skip the second measles-rubella dose. Many children miss it.
- Missed a vaccine? Still go. Health workers help children catch up on missed doses.
- During a polio outbreak campaign, all children under 5 are vaccinated again, even if they are up to date.
Who can apply
- All children under 5 should be up to date with their vaccines.
- The malaria vaccine is for young children in malaria-prone sub-counties around the lake region, where it is offered.
Official sources (6)
- Vaccines Administered to Our Children Are Safe, Ministry of Health Clarifies (9 Nov 2024) health.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- CS Duale Launches Nationwide Measles-Rubella and Typhoid Vaccine Campaign (5 Jul 2025) health.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Kenya Gears Up for National Measles-Rubella and TCV Campaign (21 May 2025) health.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Clinical Guidelines for Level 1 Community Health Services health.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Kenya Expands Malaria Vaccination To 25 Additional Sub-Counties (7 Mar 2023) health.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Ministry of Health Takes Swift Action to Alleviate Vaccine Shortages in Kenya (5 Jun 2024) health.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026