The key element to achieving global vaccination coverage goals may be improving vaccine stock management, suggests a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vaccine stock management is a critical component to ensuring vaccine access, said Dr. Saleena Subaiya of the CDC’s Global Immunization Division, and her coauthors in the Nov. 13, 2015 edition of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR. 2015 Nov 13;64[44]:1252-55). The large proportion of countries experiencing district level “stockouts” as a result of a national level stockout provides evidence that shortage of vaccines at the national level can affect the supply chain and interrupt immunization services. Dr. Subaiya said improved and timely demand forecasts to the vaccine industry are integral to help secure sufficient supplies of vaccines.
During 2014, a total of 50 (26%) of the 194 World Health Organization (WHO) countries reported experiencing a national level stockout, or shortage of supply, of at least one vaccine lasting at least 1 month. Overall 110 national stockout events were reported in 2014, with a mean of 2.2 events per country and a maximum of six events per country. Shortages involving diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccines represented 40% of the reported stockout events, followed by Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine for protection against tuberculosis (25%), and measles-containing vaccine representing 14% of stockout events.
At the subnational level, 88% of countries with a national level stockout experienced a district level stockout. In 38 (86%) countries with a district level stockout, the primary cause identified was a national level stockout.
In addition to adequate vaccine stock management, strengthening immunization programs and achieving global vaccination coverage goals requires “additional opportunities for immunization,” such as routine child medical visits in the second year of life, the researchers said.
In 2014, estimated DTP3 coverage (vaccination with the 3rd dose of DTP) was 86% worldwide among infants aged ≤12 months, while estimated global coverage with BCG, polio3, and MCV1 was 91%, 86%, and 85%, respectively. During 2014, a total of 129 (66%) of 194 WHO countries achieved ≥90% national DTP3 coverage. National DTP3 coverage was 80%–89% in 30 countries, 70%–79% in 20 countries, and <70% in 15 countries.
To read the complete report in MMWR, click here.
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