The operational feasibility of vaccination programs targeting influenza risk groups in the WHO African and South-East Asian Regions
AUTHORS
- PMID: 33949661 [PubMed].
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Influenza vaccination is uncommon in low-resource settings. We evaluated aspects of operational feasibility of influenza vaccination programs targeting risk groups in the WHO African (AFR) and South-East Asian (SEAR) Regions.
METHODS: We estimated routine immunization and influenza vaccination campaign doses, doses per vaccinator, and cold storage requirements for one simulated country in each region using evidence-based population distribution, vaccination schedule, and vaccine volumes. Influenza vaccination targeted persons <5 years, pregnant women, persons with chronic diseases, persons ≥65 years, and healthcare workers (HCW). For the AFR country, we compared vaccine volumes to actual storage capacities.
RESULTS: Targeting HCW had a small operational impact, and subsequent findings exclude this group. During three-month influenza vaccination campaigns, monthly doses delivered in the AFR country increased from 15.0% for ≥65 years to 93.1% for <5 years and in the SEAR country from 19.6% for pregnant women to 145.0% for persons with chronic diseases. National-level cold storage capacity requirements increased in the AFR country from 4.1% for ≥65 years to 20.3% for <5 years and in the SEAR country from 3.9% for pregnant women to 28.8% for persons with chronic diseases. Subnational-level cold storage capacity requirements increased in the AFR country from 5.9% for ≥65 years to 36.8% for <5 years and the SEAR country from 17.6% for pregnant women to 56.0% for persons with chronic diseases.
CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccination of most risk groups will require substantial increases in doses, doses per vaccinator, and cold storage capacity in countries where infrastructure and resources are limited.
Tags: alumni publications 2021