BACKGROUND: Unvaccinated children contribute to accumulation of susceptible persons and the continued transmission of wild poliovirus in Nigeria. In September 2012, the Expert Review Committee (ERC) on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization in Nigeria recommended that social research be conducted to better understand why children are missed during supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), also known as "immunization plus days (IPDs)" in Nigeria. METHODS: Immediately following the SIA in October 2012, polio eradication partners and the government of Nigeria conducted a study to assess why children are missed. We used semistructured questionnaires and focus group discussions in 1 rural and 1 urban local government area (LGA) of Katsina State. RESULTS: Participants reported that 61% of the children were not vaccinated because of poor vaccination team performance: either the teams did not visit the homes (25%) or the children were reported absent and not revisited (36%). This lack of access to vaccine was more frequently reported by respondents from scattered/nomadic communities (85%). In 1 out of 4 respondents (25%), refusal was the main reason their child was not vaccinated. The majority of respondents reported they would have consented to their children being vaccinated if the vaccine had been offered. CONCLUSIONS: Poor vaccination team performance is a major contributor to missed children during IPD campaigns. Addressing such operational deficiencies will help close the polio immunity gap and eradicate polio from Nigeria.
BACKGROUND: Unvaccinated children contribute to accumulation of susceptible persons and the continued transmission of wild poliovirus in Nigeria. In September 2012, the Expert Review Committee (ERC) on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization in Nigeria recommended that social research be conducted to better understand why children are missed during supplementary immunization activities (SIAs), also known as "immunization plus days (IPDs)" in Nigeria. METHODS: Immediately following the SIA in October 2012, polio eradication partners and the government of Nigeria conducted a study to assess why children are missed. We used semistructured questionnaires and focus group discussions in 1 rural and 1 urban local government area (LGA) of Katsina State. RESULTS: Participants reported that 61% of the children were not vaccinated because of poor vaccination team performance: either the teams did not visit the homes (25%) or the children were reported absent and not revisited (36%). This lack of access to vaccine was more frequently reported by respondents from scattered/nomadic communities (85%). In 1 out of 4 respondents (25%), refusal was the main reason their child was not vaccinated. The majority of respondents reported they would have consented to their children being vaccinated if the vaccine had been offered. CONCLUSIONS: Poor vaccination team performance is a major contributor to missed children during IPD campaigns. Addressing such operational deficiencies will help close the polio immunity gap and eradicate polio from Nigeria.
Authors: Hannah Wild; Luke Glowacki; Stace Maples; Iván Mejía-Guevara; Amy Krystosik; Matthew H Bonds; Abiy Hiruy; A Desiree LaBeaud; Michele Barry Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Kurayi Mahachi; Joss Kessels; Kofi Boateng; Anne Eudes Jean Baptiste; Pamela Mitula; Ebru Ekeman; Laura Nic Lochlainn; Alexander Rosewell; Samir V Sodha; Bernadette Abela-Ridder; Albis Francesco Gabrielli Journal: Vaccine Date: 2022-08-13 Impact factor: 4.169
Authors: Belete Tafesse; Ephrem Tekle; Liya Wondwossen; Mengistu Bogale; Braka Fiona; Peter Nsubuga; Karengera Tomas; Aron Kassahun; Gallagher Kathleen; Aschalew Teka Journal: Pan Afr Med J Date: 2017-06-09
Authors: Mohamed F Jalloh; Benjamin Hickler; Lauren E Parmley; Roberta Sutton; Shibani Kulkarni; Anthony Mansaray; Oliver Eleeza; Palak Patel; Elisabeth Wilhelm; Laura Conklin; Adewale Akinjeji; Mame Toure; Brent Wolff; Dimitri Prybylski; Aaron S Wallace; Maria Lahuerta Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2021-05