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Bile AS, Ali-Salad MA, Mahmoud AJ, Singh NS, Abdelmagid N, Sabahelzain MM, Checchi F, Mounier-Jack S, Nor B. Assessing Vaccination Delivery Strategies for Zero-Dose and Under-Immunized Children in the Fragile Context of Somalia. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:154. [PMID: 38400137 PMCID: PMC10892412 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Somalia is one of 20 countries in the world with the highest numbers of zero-dose children. This study aims to identify who and where zero-dose and under-vaccinated children are and what the existing vaccine delivery strategies to reach zero-dose children in Somalia are. This qualitative study was conducted in three geographically diverse regions of Somalia (rural/remote, nomadic/pastoralists, IDPs, and urban poor population), with government officials and NGO staff (n = 17), and with vaccinators and community members (n = 52). The data were analyzed using the GAVI Vaccine Alliance IRMMA framework. Nomadic populations, internally displaced persons, and populations living in remote and Al-shabaab-controlled areas are three vulnerable and neglected populations with a high proportion of zero-dose children. Despite the contextual heterogeneity of these population groups, the lack of targeted, population-specific strategies and meaningful engagement of local communities in the planning and implementation of immunization services is problematic in effectively reaching zero-dose children. This is, to our knowledge, the first study that examines vaccination strategies for zero-dose and under-vaccinated populations in the fragile context of Somalia. Evidence on populations at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and barriers to vital vaccination services remain critical and urgent, especially in a country like Somalia with complex health system challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Said Bile
- Somali Institute for Development Research and Analysis (SIDRA), Garowe, Puntland State, Somalia; (M.A.A.-S.); (A.J.M.)
| | - Mohamed A. Ali-Salad
- Somali Institute for Development Research and Analysis (SIDRA), Garowe, Puntland State, Somalia; (M.A.A.-S.); (A.J.M.)
| | - Amina J. Mahmoud
- Somali Institute for Development Research and Analysis (SIDRA), Garowe, Puntland State, Somalia; (M.A.A.-S.); (A.J.M.)
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 753 10 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Neha S. Singh
- Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (N.S.S.); (N.A.); (F.C.)
- Health in Humanitarian Crises Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Nada Abdelmagid
- Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (N.S.S.); (N.A.); (F.C.)
- Health in Humanitarian Crises Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Majdi M. Sabahelzain
- School of Health Sciences, Ahfad University for Women (AUW), Omdurman P.O. Box 167, Sudan;
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Francesco Checchi
- Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (N.S.S.); (N.A.); (F.C.)
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| | - Sandra Mounier-Jack
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| | - Barni Nor
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, 753 10 Uppsala, Sweden;
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