Sharing best practices in improving routine immunization coverage

Abstract

In the 1990s immunization coverage either stagnated or declined in most countries in the African Region. The coverage for the third dose of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT3) vaccine at national level, an indicator used for tracking immunization performance, was below 50% across the Region. Furthermore, in 2001, 20 of the 46 WHO Member countries in the Region reported decline in DPT3 coverage compared to the preceding year. 2. In 2002, key immunization partners launched the Reaching Every District (RED) approach as a strategy to address this situation in the African Region. This strategy was made up of five components, namely: re-establishing outreach activities, linking services with communities, supportive supervision, planning and resource management, and monitoring for action at the district level. By the end of 2007, 94% of the districts in the Region were implementing all components of the RED approach. 3. As of 2006, significant improvements in DPT3 and measles vaccination coverage were documented at national level in 33 and 38 countries, respectively. At regional level, DPT3 coverage rose to 82% in 2006 compared to 57% in 2002. This success has, however, varied between countries. Despite these improvements, 8.7 million infants in the African Region still remain un-reached with the six basic antigens in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). The exchange of experiences in implementing the RED strategy will help Member countries improve implementation.