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Wariri O, Utazi CE, Okomo U, Dotse-Gborgbortsi W, Sogur M, Fofana S, Murray KA, Grundy C, Kampmann B. Multi-level determinants of timely routine childhood vaccinations in The Gambia: Findings from a nationwide analysis. Vaccine 2024; 43:126500. [PMID: 39488905 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.126500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 10/17/2024] [Accepted: 10/28/2024] [Indexed: 11/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Achieving the ambitious goals of the Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030) requires a deeper understanding of factors influencing under-vaccination, including timely vaccination. This study investigates the demand- and supply-side determinants influencing the timely uptake of key childhood vaccines scheduled throughout the first year of life in The Gambia. METHODS We used two nationally-representative datasets: the 2019-20 Gambian Demographic and Health Survey and the 2019 national immunisation facility mapping. Using Bayesian multi-level binary logistic regression models, we identified key factors significantly associated with timely vaccination for five key vaccines: birth dose of hepatitis-B (HepB0), first, second, and third doses of the pentavalent vaccine (Penta1, Penta2, Penta3), and first-dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) in children aged 12-35 months. We report the adjusted Odds Ratios (aORs) and 95 % Credible Intervals (95 % CIs) in each case. RESULTS We found that demand-side factors, such as ethnicity, household wealth status, maternal education, maternal parity, and the duration of the household's residency in its current location, were the most common drivers of timely childhood vaccination. However, supply-side factors such as travel time to the nearest immunisation clinic, availability of cold-storage and staffing numbers in the nearest immunisation clinic were also significant determinants. Furthermore, the determinants varied across specific vaccines and the timing of doses. For example, delivery in a health facility (aOR = 1.58, 95 %CI: 1.02-2.53), living less than 30 min (aOR = 2.11, 95 %CI: 1.2-8.84) and living between 30 and 60 min (aOR = 3.68, 95 %CI: 1.1-14.99) from a fixed-immunisation clinic was associated with timely HepB0, a time-sensitive vaccine that must be administered within 24 h of birth. On the other hand, children who received Penta1 and Penta2 on time were three- to five-fold more likely to receive subsequent doses on time (Penta2 and Penta3, respectively). Finally, proximity to an immunisation facility with functional vaccine cold-storage was a significant supply-side determinant of timely MCV1 (aOR = 1.4, 95 %CI: 1.09-1.99). CONCLUSIONS These findings provide valuable insights for programme managers and policymakers. By prioritising interventions and allocating scarce resources based on these identified determinants, they can maximize their impact and ensure children in The Gambia receive timely vaccinations throughout their first year of life, contributing to IA2030 goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oghenebrume Wariri
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, the Gambia; Vaccine Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Chigozie Edson Utazi
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Uduak Okomo
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, the Gambia; MARCH Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Winfred Dotse-Gborgbortsi
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Malick Sogur
- Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, The Gambia, Banjul, the Gambia
| | - Sidat Fofana
- Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, The Gambia, Banjul, the Gambia
| | - Kris A Murray
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, MRC Unit The Gambia at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, the Gambia
| | - Chris Grundy
- Vaccine Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Beate Kampmann
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, the Gambia; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Global Health, Charité Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Germany
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Islam MR, Rahman MM, Rahman MS, Abe SK, Akmatov MK, Hashizume M. Trends and projections of age-appropriate vaccination coverage in 41 low- and middle- income countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2030. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1371258. [PMID: 38784590 PMCID: PMC11111938 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1371258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Routine immunization programs have focused on increasing vaccination coverage, which is equally important for decreasing vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). We estimated the trends and projections of age-appropriate vaccination coverage at the regional and national levels, as well as place of residence and wealth index in LMICs. Methods In total, 174 nationally representative household surveys from 2000 to 2020 from 41 LMICs were included in this study. Bayesian hierarchical regression models were used to estimate trends and projections of age-appropriate vaccination. Results The trend in coverage of age-appropriate Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), third dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP3), third dose of polio (polio3), and measles-containing vaccine (MCV) increased rapidly from 2000 to 2020 in LMICs. Findings indicate substantial increases at the regional and national levels, and by area of residence and socioeconomic status between 2000 and 2030. The largest rise was observed in East Africa, followed by South and Southeast Asia. However, out of the 41 countries, only 10 countries are estimated to achieve 90% coverage of the BCG vaccine by 2030, five of DTP3, three of polio3, and none of MCV. Additionally, by 2030, wider pro-urban and -rich inequalities are expected in several African countries. Conclusion Significant progress in age-appropriate vaccination coverage has been made in LMICs from 2000 to 2020. Despite this, projections show many countries will not meet the 2030 coverage goals, with persistent urban-rural and socioeconomic disparities. Therefore, LMICs must prioritize underperforming areas and reduce inequalities through stronger health systems and increased community engagement to ensure high coverage and equitable vaccine access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Rashedul Islam
- Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Md Mizanur Rahman
- Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Md Shafiur Rahman
- Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Osaka, Japan
- Division of Prevention, Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center Japan, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sarah Krull Abe
- Division of Prevention, Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center Japan, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Manas K. Akmatov
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Care Atlas, Central Research Institute of Ambulatory Health Care, Berlin, Germany
| | - Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Corrêa GC, Uddin MJ, Wahed T, Oliveras E, Morgan C, Kamya MR, Kabatangare P, Namugaya F, Leab D, Adjakidje D, Nguku P, Attahiru A, Sequeira J, Vollmer N, Reynolds HW. Measuring Zero-Dose Children: Reflections on Age Cohort Flexibilities for Targeted Immunization Surveys at the Local Level. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:195. [PMID: 38400178 PMCID: PMC10892624 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Zero-dose (ZD) children is a critical objective in global health, and it is at the heart of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) strategy. Coverage for the first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP1)-containing vaccine is the global operational indicator used to estimate ZD children. When surveys are used, DTP1 coverage estimates usually rely on information reported from caregivers of children aged 12-23 months. It is important to have a global definition of ZD children, but learning and operational needs at a country level may require different ZD measurement approaches. This article summarizes a recent workshop discussion on ZD measurement for targeted surveys at local levels related to flexibilities in age cohorts of inclusion from the ZD learning Hub (ZDLH) initiative-a learning initiative involving 5 consortia of 14 different organizations across 4 countries-Bangladesh, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda-and a global learning partner. Those considerations may include the need to generate insights on immunization timeliness and on catch-up activities, made particularly relevant in the post-pandemic context; the need to compare results across different age cohort years to better identify systematically missed communities and validate programmatic priorities, and also generate insights on changes under dynamic contexts such as the introduction of a new ZD intervention or for recovering from the impact of health system shocks. Some practical considerations such as the potential need for a larger sample size when including comparisons across multiple cohort years but a potential reduction in the need for household visits to find eligible children, an increase in recall bias when older age groups are included and a reduction in recall bias for the first year of life, and a potential reduction in sample size needs and time needed to detect impact when the first year of life is included. Finally, the inclusion of the first year of life cohort in the survey may be particularly relevant and improve the utility of evidence for decision-making and enable its use in rapid learning cycles, as insights will be generated for the population being currently targeted by the program. For some of those reasons, the ZDLH initiative decided to align on a recommendation to include the age cohort from 18 weeks to 23 months, with enough power to enable disaggregation of key results across the two different cohort years. We argue that flexibilities with the age cohort for inclusion in targeted surveys at the local level may be an important principle to be considered. More research is needed to better understand in which contexts improvements in timeliness of DTP1 in the first year of life will translate to improvements in ZD results in the age cohort of 12-23 months as defined by the global DTP1 indicator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo C. Corrêa
- Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, Chemin du Pommier 40, Le Grand Saconnex, 1218 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Md. Jasim Uddin
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh (T.W.)
| | - Tasnuva Wahed
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh (T.W.)
| | - Elizabeth Oliveras
- Jhpiego, The Johns Hopkins University Affiliate, 1615 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA (C.M.)
| | - Christopher Morgan
- Jhpiego, The Johns Hopkins University Affiliate, 1615 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA (C.M.)
| | - Moses R. Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC), Kampala P.O. Box 7475, Uganda; (M.R.K.); (F.N.)
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7072, Uganda
| | - Patience Kabatangare
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC), Kampala P.O. Box 7475, Uganda; (M.R.K.); (F.N.)
| | - Faith Namugaya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC), Kampala P.O. Box 7475, Uganda; (M.R.K.); (F.N.)
| | - Dorothy Leab
- GaneshAID, 143 Doc Ngu, Lieu Giai, Ba Dinh, Hanoi 152960, Vietnam
| | - Didier Adjakidje
- GaneshAID, 143 Doc Ngu, Lieu Giai, Ba Dinh, Hanoi 152960, Vietnam
| | - Patrick Nguku
- African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), 50 Haile Selassie St, Asokoro, Abuja 900103, Nigeria
| | - Adam Attahiru
- African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), 50 Haile Selassie St, Asokoro, Abuja 900103, Nigeria
| | - Jenny Sequeira
- The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF), Av. Louis-Casaï 18, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nancy Vollmer
- JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), 2733 Crystal Dr 4th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202, USA;
| | - Heidi W. Reynolds
- Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, Chemin du Pommier 40, Le Grand Saconnex, 1218 Geneva, Switzerland
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Wariri O, Utazi CE, Okomo U, Sowe A, Sogur M, Fofanna S, Ezeani E, Saidy L, Sarwar G, Dondeh BL, Murray KA, Grundy C, Kampmann B. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the coverage and timeliness of routine childhood vaccinations in the Gambia, 2015-2021. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e014225. [PMID: 38148110 PMCID: PMC10753753 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-014225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread morbidity and mortality and resulted in the biggest setback in routine vaccinations in three decades. Data on the impact of the pandemic on immunisation in Africa are limited, in part, due to low-quality routine or administrative data. This study examined coverage and timeliness of routine childhood immunisation during the pandemic in The Gambia, a country with an immunisation system considered robust. METHODS We obtained prospective birth cohort data of 57 286 children in over 300 communities in two health and demographic surveillance system sites, including data from the pre-pandemic period (January 2015-February 2020) and the three waves of the pandemic period (March 2020-December 2021). We determined monthly coverage and timeliness (early and delayed) of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB0) and the first dose of pentavalent vaccine (Penta1) during the different waves of the pandemic relative to the pre-pandemic period. We implemented a binomial interrupted time-series regression model. RESULT We observed no significant change in the coverage of HepB0 and Penta1 vaccinations from the pre-pandemic period up until the periods before the peaks of the first and second waves of the pandemic in 2020. However, there was an increase in HepB0 coverage before as well as after the peak of the third wave in 2021 compared with the pre-pandemic period (pre-third wave peak OR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.06 to 3.14; post-third wave period OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.92). There was some evidence that vaccination timeliness changed during specific periods of the pandemic. Early Penta1 vaccination decreased by 70% (OR=0.30, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.78) in the period before the second wave, and delayed HepB0 vaccination decreased by 47% (OR=0.53, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.97) after the peak of the third wave in 2021. CONCLUSION Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Gambia's routine vaccination programme has defied the setbacks witnessed in other settings and remained resilient, with coverage increasing and timeliness improving during the second and third waves. These findings highlight the importance of having adequate surveillance systems to monitor the impact of large shocks to vaccination coverage and timeliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oghenebrume Wariri
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Vaccine Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Chigozie Edson Utazi
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute, , University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Uduak Okomo
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
- MARCH Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Alieu Sowe
- Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Malick Sogur
- Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Sidat Fofanna
- Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Esu Ezeani
- Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Lamin Saidy
- Data Management & Architecture, MRC Unit The Gambia a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Golam Sarwar
- Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Bai-Lamin Dondeh
- Data Management & Architecture, MRC Unit The Gambia a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Kris A Murray
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, MRC Unit The Gambia at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Chris Grundy
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Beate Kampmann
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
- Vaccine Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Centre for Global Health, Charité Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Wariri O, Utazi CE, Okomo U, Metcalf CJE, Sogur M, Fofana S, Murray KA, Grundy C, Kampmann B. Mapping the timeliness of routine childhood vaccination in The Gambia: A spatial modelling study. Vaccine 2023; 41:5696-5705. [PMID: 37563051 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Timeliness of routine vaccination shapes childhood infection risk and thus is an important public health metric. Estimates of indicators of the timeliness of vaccination are usually produced at the national or regional level, which may conceal epidemiologically relevant local heterogeneities and makeitdifficultto identify pockets of vulnerabilities that could benefit from targeted interventions. Here, we demonstrate the utility of geospatial modelling techniques in generating high-resolution maps of the prevalence of delayed childhood vaccination in The Gambia. To guide local immunisation policy and prioritize key interventions, we also identified the districts with a combination of high estimated prevalence and a significant population of affected infants. METHODS We used the birth dose of the hepatitis-B vaccine (HepB0), third-dose of the pentavalent vaccine (PENTA3), and the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) as examples to map delayed vaccination nationally at a resolution of 1 × 1-km2 pixel. We utilized cluster-level childhood vaccination data from The Gambia 2019-20 Demographic and Health Survey. We adopted a fully Bayesian geostatistical model incorporating publicly available geospatial covariates to aid predictive accuracy. The model was implemented using the integrated nested Laplace approximation-stochastic partial differential equation (INLA-SPDE) approach. RESULTS We found significant subnational heterogeneity in delayed HepB0, PENTA3 and MCV1 vaccinations. Specificdistricts in the central and eastern regions of The Gambia consistentlyexhibited the highest prevalence of delayed vaccination, while the coastal districts showed alower prevalence forallthree vaccines. We also found that districts in the eastern, central, as well as in coastal parts of The Gambia had a combination of high estimated prevalence of delayed HepB0, PENTA3 and MCV1 and a significant population of affected infants. CONCLUSIONS Our approach provides decision-makers with a valuable tool to better understand local patterns of untimely childhood vaccination and identify districts where strengthening vaccine delivery systems could have the greatest impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oghenebrume Wariri
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Gambia; Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Vaccine Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Chigozie Edson Utazi
- WorldPop, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Uduak Okomo
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Gambia; MARCH Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - C Jessica E Metcalf
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Malick Sogur
- Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, The Gambia, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Sidat Fofana
- Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, The Gambia, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Kris A Murray
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, MRC Unit The Gambia at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Chris Grundy
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Beate Kampmann
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Gambia; Vaccine Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Global Health, Charité Universitatsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
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