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Jennings MC, Sauer M, Manchester C, Soeters HM, Shimp L, Hyde TB, Parashar U, Burgess C, Castro B, Hossein I, Othepa M, Payne DC, Tate JE, Walldorf J, Privor-Dumm L, Richart V, Santosham M. Supporting evidence-based rotavirus vaccine introduction decision-making and implementation: Lessons from 8 Gavi-eligible countries. Vaccine 2024; 42:8-16. [PMID: 38042696 PMCID: PMC10733863 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the 2009 World Health Organization recommendation that all countries introduce rotavirus vaccines (RVV) into their national immunization programs, just 81 countries had introduced RVV by the end of 2015, leaving millions of children at risk for rotavirus morbidity and mortality. In response, the Rotavirus Accelerated Vaccine Introduction Network (RAVIN) was established in 2016 to provide support to eight Gavi-eligible countries that had yet to make an RVV introduction decision and/or had requested technical assistance with RVV preparations: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Nepal. During 2016-2020, RAVIN worked with country governments and partners to support evidence-based immunization decision-making, RVV introduction preparation and implementation, and multilateral coordination. By the September 2020 program close-out, five of the eight RAVIN focus countries successfully introduced RVV into their routine childhood immunization programs. We report on the RAVIN approach, describe how the project responded collectively to an evolving RVV product landscape, synthesize common characteristics of the RAVIN country experiences, highlight key lessons learned, and outline the unfinished agenda to inform future new vaccine introduction efforts by countries and global partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Carol Jennings
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA; International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Molly Sauer
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA; International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
| | | | - Heidi M Soeters
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Lora Shimp
- JSI Research and Training Institute, Arlington, USA
| | - Terri B Hyde
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Umesh Parashar
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | | | - Brian Castro
- JSI Research and Training Institute, Arlington, USA
| | | | | | - Daniel C Payne
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | | | - Jenny Walldorf
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Lois Privor-Dumm
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA; International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | | | - Mathuram Santosham
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA; International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
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Shearer JC, Nava O, Prosser W, Nawaz S, Mulongo S, Mambu T, Mafuta E, Munguambe K, Sigauque B, Cherima YJ, Durosinmi-Etti O, Okojie O, Hadejia IS, Oyewole F, Mekonnen DA, Kanagat N, Hooks C, Fields R, Richart V, Chee G. Uncovering the Drivers of Childhood Immunization Inequality with Caregivers, Community Members and Health System Stakeholders: Results from a Human-Centered Design Study in DRC, Mozambique and Nigeria. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030689. [PMID: 36992273 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The importance of immunization for child survival underscores the need to eliminate immunization inequalities. Few existing studies of inequalities use approaches that view the challenges and potential solutions from the perspective of caregivers. This study aimed to identify barriers and context-appropriate solutions by engaging deeply with caregivers, community members, health workers, and other health system actors through participatory action research, intersectionality, and human-centered design lenses. METHODS This study was conducted in the Demographic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Nigeria. Rapid qualitative research was followed by co-creation workshops with study participants to identify solutions. We analyzed the data using the UNICEF Journey to Health and Immunization Framework. RESULTS Caregivers of zero-dose and under-immunized children faced multiple intersecting and interacting barriers related to gender, poverty, geographic access, and service experience. Immunization programs were not aligned with needs of the most vulnerable due to the sub-optimal implementation of pro-equity strategies, such as outreach vaccination. Caregivers and communities identified feasible solutions through co-creation workshops and this approach should be used whenever possible to inform local planning. CONCLUSIONS Policymakers and managers can integrate HCD and intersectionality mindsets into existing planning and assessment processes, and focus on overcoming root causes of sub-optimal implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia Nava
- Independent Consultant, Oakland, CA 94608, USA
| | - Wendy Prosser
- JSI Research and Training Institute USA, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
| | | | - Salva Mulongo
- PATH DRC, Kinshasa 7525, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Thérèse Mambu
- Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 11, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Eric Mafuta
- Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 11, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Khatia Munguambe
- Community Health Department, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo 1102, Mozambique
| | - Betuel Sigauque
- JSI Research and Training Institute Mozambique, Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | | | - Obehi Okojie
- Department of Community Health, University of Benin, Benin City 300271, Nigeria
| | | | - Femi Oyewole
- Consultant Public Health Physician, Lagos, Nigeria
| | | | - Natasha Kanagat
- JSI Research and Training Institute USA, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Fields
- JSI Research and Training Institute USA, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
| | - Vanessa Richart
- JSI Research and Training Institute USA, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
| | - Grace Chee
- JSI Research and Training Institute USA, Arlington, VA 22202, USA
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Hossain I, Mugoya I, Muchai L, Krudwig K, Davis N, Shimp L, Richart V. Blended Learning Using Peer Mentoring and WhatsApp for Building Capacity of Health Workers for Strengthening Immunization Services in Kenya. Glob Health Sci Pract 2021; 9:201-215. [PMID: 33795370 PMCID: PMC8087436 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-20-00421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Innovative learning strategies are needed to improve frontline health workers' skills for achieving immunization coverage goals—now even more important with COVID-19. Peer mentoring and WhatsApp networking are low-cost and useful blended learning methods for need-based and individualized capacity building of health workers for improving immunization services that don't disrupt the health care workers' regular work. Evidence from available studies suggests that peer mentoring is a useful tool to build health workers' knowledge, skills, and practices. However, there is a dearth of research on use of this method of learning in immunization programs. Although WhatsApp has been used as a networking platform among health care professionals, there is limited research on its potential contribution to improving the immunization competencies of health workers. This study showed that peer mentoring and WhatsApp networking are useful blended learning methods for need-based and individualized capacity building of health workers providing immunization services. Future research to assess the comparative cost-benefit between classroom-based training and peer mentoring (along with WhatsApp networking) will be useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iqbal Hossain
- Immunization Center, JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., Arlington, VA, USA.
| | - Isaac Mugoya
- JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lilian Muchai
- JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Kirstin Krudwig
- Immunization Center, JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Nicole Davis
- Center for Health Information, Monitoring and Evaluation, JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Lora Shimp
- Immunization Center, JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Vanessa Richart
- Immunization Center, JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., Arlington, VA, USA
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