Mapping vaccination coverage to explore the effects of delivery mechanisms and inform vaccination strategies

Nat Commun. 2019 Apr 9;10(1):1633. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09611-1.

Abstract

The success of vaccination programs depends largely on the mechanisms used in vaccine delivery. National immunization programs offer childhood vaccines through fixed and outreach services within the health system and often, additional supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) are undertaken to fill gaps and boost coverage. Here, we map predicted coverage at 1 × 1 km spatial resolution in five low- and middle-income countries to identify areas that are under-vaccinated via each delivery method using Demographic and Health Surveys data. We compare estimates of the coverage of the third dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP3), which is typically delivered through routine immunization (RI), with those of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) for which SIAs are also undertaken. We find that SIAs have boosted MCV coverage in some places, but not in others, particularly where RI had been deficient, as depicted by DTP coverage. The modelling approaches outlined here can help to guide geographical prioritization and strategy design.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cambodia
  • Child, Preschool
  • Datasets as Topic
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Demography / statistics & numerical data*
  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / administration & dosage
  • Ethiopia
  • Global Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Mass Vaccination / methods
  • Mass Vaccination / organization & administration
  • Mass Vaccination / statistics & numerical data*
  • Measles Vaccine / administration & dosage
  • Models, Statistical
  • Mozambique
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nigeria
  • Strategic Planning
  • Vaccination Coverage / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine
  • Measles Vaccine