A vaccination campaign against Hepatitis B, targeting students and staff at the Faculty of Health Sciences of Egerton University, kicked off today. The exercise was held at the Milimani Campus of the university, adjacent to the Rift Valley General Hospital, and the Kenya Medical Training College. While launching the exercise, the dean of the faculty, Dr.Agnes Thimbiri said the vaccination exercise was a privilege to the university’s community. She said the campaign was meant to sensitize the public on the reality of Hepatitis B disease and the need for vaccination against the disease. “Many people do not realize the importance of undertaking vaccinations for various preventable diseases. As we grow older, it is important to seek vaccination against some common diseases that can be prevented,” said the dean. The vaccination that will take place in three phases, is being administered by the university’s medical staff from the main campus in Njoro, and is sponsored by Sanofi Pasteur, an international pharmaceutical organization that partners with the faculty. Hepatitis B is a disease that causes liver cancer among adults. It spreads through exposure to infected blood and body secretions like saliva and semen. The vaccine, according to medical reports, contains antigents that stimulate protective antibodies in the human body.