Bile, Ahmed Said; Ali-Salad, Mohamed A; Mahmoud, Amina J; Singh, Neha S; Abdelmagid, Nada; Sabahelzain, Majdi M; Checchi, Francesco; Mounier-Jack, Sandra; Nor, Barni; (2024) Assessing Vaccination Delivery Strategies for Zero-Dose and Under-Immunized Children in the Fragile Context of Somalia. Vaccines, 12 (2). p. 154. ISSN 2076-393X DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12020154
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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.
Item Type | Article |
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Faculty and Department |
Faculty of Public Health and Policy > Dept of Global Health and Development Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology & International Health (2023-) |
Research Centre | Centre for Maternal, Reproductive and Child Health (MARCH) |
PubMed ID | 38400137 |
Elements ID | 214777 |
Official URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12020154 |
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Filename: Bile-etal-2024-Assessing-Vaccination-Delivery-Strategies.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
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