Isolated gains in immunization need to become the norm

Monday, 14th of December 2015

Isolated gains in immunization need to become the norm

Dr Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele Director of the Department of Immunization Vaccines and Biologicals

Commentary 
11 December 2015

Ten days and more than 11 million children vaccinated against measles and rubella – thats 764 children reached every minute. These numbers continue to impress me when I think about last years game-changing immunization programmes that reached children often missed due to humanitarian emergencies.

 

WHO

In Yemen for example despite the ongoing conflict fuel shortages and block roads the countrys 2014 immunization campaign was able to reach 91% of children aged nine months to 15 years. Remarkably parents brought their children to the clinics and more than 24 000 health workers were mobilized across the country to administer a newly introduced measles-rubella vaccine.

With strong government commitment adequate funding and flawless coordination among a wide-range of partners Yemen achieved the target set out in the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) to reach 90% of children with the measles-rubella vaccine.

Problem is campaigns like this are an example of isolated improvements in reaching the nearly 1 in 5 children missing out on life-saving immunizations. Many countries are still way off-track. In order to reach every child by 2020 isolated improvements including those to strengthen routine immunization need to become the norm.

So how do we get back on track?

Reducing missed opportunities increasing coverage

WHOs Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunizations (SAGE) met in October to review progress on achieving the GVAP targets and reported most countries are still missing countless opportunities to protect children.

While substantial progress has been made in vaccinating 90% of children with the first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) containing vaccine globally many children do not come back for their second and third doses. Drop-out will need to be reduced if we are to achieve 90% coverage in 194 countries by 2015. In 2014 only 129 countries had reached this target.

One way of reducing drop-out is ensuring health workers always check vaccination cards when children are seen for well-child care or sick visits. Exit interviews conducted at health facilities in Chad and Malawi this year found 75% of children did not receive the vaccines for which they were eligible. Checking vaccination cards at every visit is an easy way of improving global vaccination coverage. We already have the child and his or her caregivers attention so lets make sure children have all of their vaccinations before they leave the clinic.

Most unvaccinated infants in the world remain located in a few large under-performing countries. With better data at national and especially at the subnational levels countries could assess pockets of under-immunization identify exactly where missed opportunities exist and target these populations with localized solutions.

"There is demand for immunization across the world."

Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele WHO

Common factors for success 

Although opportunities were missed to reach every child last year many countries had great success.

India the second largest country in the world was validated as having eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus because it committed to improving access to immunization antenatal care services and skilled birth attendance in the most vulnerable populations. It also improved coverage of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-containing vaccines (DTP3) to 83%.

The Americas became the first region to eliminate rubella and congenital rubella syndrome a major achievement.

Nigeria was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries in September leaving the African Region one-step closer to being certified polio-free.

The key to success in all 3 of these examples was leadership and accountability at all 3 levels – national regional and global. When countries and partners establish and enforce clear accountability systems measure results and take action when results are not being achieved amazing progress will be made.

SAGE also identified an additional 5 factors to achieving significant results: quality and use of data; community involvement; better access to immunization services for marginalized and displaced populations; strong health systems and access to vaccines in all places at all times. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to reach every child we need to work with countries to understand how each of these success factors can help achieve a world free of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Reaching everyone throughout life

Going forward countries should have annual plans for immunization that are consistent with the GVAP and relevant regional vaccine action plans. SAGE says it is not enough to just have a plan countries need to strengthen the quality of their data be accountable to their targets and be monitored through an independent body.

Development partners both global and national cannot continue to be fragmented. We need to improve coordination and confirm our actions follow country and regional action plans. Vaccine stockpiles for humanitarian emergencies also need to continue to be replenished so that the second they are needed they are available.

There is demand for immunization across the world. Now we need to continue to meet the demand and reach every person with live-saving immunizations.

As we launch “Close the Immunization Gap” the theme for next years World Immunization Week lets guarantee impressive gains achieved in some countries become the norm in all countries and provide immunization for all throughout life.

 URL: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/commentaries/gains-in-immunization/en/
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