Up WHO is collaborating with Ondo State to implement targeted interventions with the goal of reducing missed opportunities for vaccination in an effort to increase vaccination coverage and give eligible children a second chance to receive all of their recommended vaccinations (MOV).
Mrs. Elizabeth Adeniran claims, “I was given this coupon after I gave birth to my child in a private facility; my baby has since received vaccinations preventing tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and polio.”
The mother of two had previously neglected to take advantage of the opportunity to immunize her eligible children, despite the fact that she had frequently visited the local hospital for treatment of minor ailments while always accompanied by her kids.
The MOV reduction strategy, which is based on a system whereby any child or person who is eligible for vaccination and visits a health facility or mobile health service (for any reason), receives the necessary vaccines during their visit, benefits Mrs. Adeniran.
Akure South, Odigbo, and Owo are the three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ondo State that are currently piloting a package of interventions to reduce MOV.
These interventions include the provision and training on the use of job-aids, such as an immunization wheel, posters, immunization schedule, and referral coupons for screening of vaccination cards and referring of eligible children for vaccination.
To cascade training at the level of health facilities, officers from the State Government and District health teams have received training as facilitators.
Ondo State has also used media channels like bulk SMSs, radio and TV jingles, and video recordings to spread awareness among mothers about the importance of keeping vaccination records as one of its other methods for bridging the coverage gap.
All state and LGA actors participate in monthly stakeholder meetings to discuss ways to improve the intervention and to receive technical support.
The MOV was required because routine immunization coverage over the previous two years had plateaued in Ondo, one of the six states in South West Nigeria.
Immunization coverage is below the national and international acceptable level of 90% based on trends from the Districts Health Information System (DHIS-2) platform, NICS, Multiple Indicator Coverage Survey (MICS), and Lots Quality Assurance Sampling Survey (LQAS).
Following this unfavorable impact, the State recruited and trained 2,014 health workers—619 vaccination personnel and 1,395 non-vaccination personnel—from 200 public and private health facilities within the three priority LGAs in order to carry out the intended activities.
This was done with technical and financial assistance from WHO.
“As the routine immunization focal person in Comprehensive Health Centre Arakale, I have been practicing for over 16 years.
The MOV training has improved my knowledge on what to do when immunization doses are delayed, especially in the second year of life,” said Mrs. Caroline Akinboboye, one of the training participants and a vaccination specialist in the Akure South district.
Since receiving training, I have personally referred more than 20 clients from the maternity unit to the immunization clinic to receive vaccinations, according to another clinician, Mrs. Helen Ogunniyi, a maternity nurse who has been employed for approximately 8 years.
A total of 2, 348 children aged 0-23 months have been identified and given the missed vaccinations they missed since the intervention’s implementation started in October 2021, according to WHO State Coordinator Dr. Dele David.
Additionally, a screening exercise revealed that 99 percent of the children who were referred had received the full complement of advised immunizations.
Ondo Director of Disease Control & Immunization, OSPHCDA, Dr. Victor Akinpelumi Adefesoye, stated, “I am very interested in this intervention, and I appreciate all stakeholders, including WHO, for ensuring that this is being successfully implemented, in a mid-term review meeting held on June 23, 2022, to identify best practices and strengths, determine persistent gaps/challenges, and lessons learned.
We are aware of how far we have come and promise to get much better soon.
Vaccination is an unquestionable human right and an essential part of primary healthcare.
WHO will continue to assist Ondo in managing the systems set up to strengthen and improve routine immunization in the State.