Acceptance of multiple injectable vaccines in a single immunization visit in The Gambia pre and post introduction of inactivated polio vaccine

Wednesday, 12th of October 2016

Vaccine. 2016 Sep 22;34(41):5034-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.07.021. Epub 2016 Aug 25.

Acceptance of multiple injectable vaccines in a single immunization visit in The Gambia pre and post introduction of inactivated polio vaccine

Idoko OT1, Hampton LM2, Mboizi RB3, Agbla SC3, Wallace AS2, Harris JB2, Sowe D4, Ehlman DC2, Kampmann B5, Ota MO6, Hyde TB2.

Author information

1Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Gambia. Electronic address: bukkyidoko@gmail.com.

2Global Immunization Division, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.

3Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Gambia.

4Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, Gambia.

5Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Gambia; Academic Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College London, UK.

6WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazaville, Congo.

Abstract below; full text is available to subscribers

BACKGROUND:

As the World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends that children be protected against 11 different pathogens, it is becoming increasingly necessary to administer multiple injectable vaccines during a single immunization visit. In this study we assess Gambian healthcare providers and infant caregivers attitudes and practices related to the administration of multiple injectable vaccines to a child at a single immunization visit before and after the 2015 introduction of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). IPV introduction increased the number of injectable vaccines recommended for the 4-month immunization visit from two to three in The Gambia.

METHODS:

We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey before and after the introduction of IPV at 4months of age in a representative sample of all health facilities providing immunizations in The Gambia. Healthcare providers who administer vaccines at the selected health facilities and caregivers who brought infants for their 4month immunization visit were surveyed.

FINDINGS:

Prior to IPV introduction, 9.9% of healthcare providers and 35.7% of infant caregivers expressed concern about a child receiving more than 2 injections in a single visit. Nevertheless, 98.8% and 90.9% of infants received all required vaccinations for the visit before and after IPV introduction, respectively. The only reason why vaccines were not received was vaccine stock-outs. Infant caregivers generally agreed that vaccinators could be trusted to provide accurate information regarding the number of vaccines that a child needed.

CONCLUSION:

Healthcare providers and infant caregivers in this resource limited setting accepted an increase in the number of injectable vaccines administered at a single visit even though some expressed concerns about the increase.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.