Recovering from the Unprecedented Backsliding in Immunization Coverage: Learnings from Country Programming in Five Countries through the Past Two Years of COVID-19 Pandemic Disruptions.

Between 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic severely strained health systems across countries, leaving millions without access to essential healthcare services. Immunization programs experienced a 'double burden' of challenges: initial pandemic-related lockdowns disrupted access to routine immunization services, while subsequent COVID-19 vaccination efforts shifted often limited resources away from routine services. The latest World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates suggest that 25 million children did not receive routine vaccinations in 2021, six million more than in 2019 and the highest number witnessed in nearly two decades. Recovering from this sobering setback requires a united push on several fronts. Intensifying the catch-up of routine immunization services is critical to reach children left behind during the pandemic and bridge large immunity gaps in countries. At the same time, we must strengthen the resilience of immunization systems to withstand future pandemics if we hope to achieve the goals of Immunization Agenda 2030 to ensure vaccinations are available for everyone, everywhere by 2030. In this article, leveraging the key actions for sustainable global immunization progress as a framework, we spotlight examples of strategies used by five countries-Cambodia, Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda-who have exhibited exemplar performance in strengthening routine immunization programs and restored lost coverage levels in the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The contents of this article will be helpful for countries seeking to maintain, restore, and strengthen their immunization services and catch up missed children in the context of pandemic recovery and to direct their focus toward building back a better resilience of their immunization systems to respond more rapidly and effectively, despite new and emerging challenges.

Assessing Comorbidity of Diarrhea and Acute Respiratory Infections in Children Under 5 Years: Evidence From Kenya's Demographic Health Survey 2014.

Background: Kenya is one among the 15 countries that account for three-quarters of the global mortality burden due to diarrhea and respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Comorbidity of diarrhea and acute respiratory infection (ARI) can either be simultaneous (both occurring at the same time) or sequential (where the occurrence of one leads to the occurrence of the other. This study aimed to determine the shared risks that influence comorbidity of diarrhea and RTIs among Kenya's children younger than 5 years. Methods: The study entailed an analysis of secondary data from the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (DHS) 2014 using STATA Corp 2010. Descriptive analysis of independent variables and logistic regression model was used to analyze risk factors associated with comorbidity from diarrhea and ARI in children <5 years. Results: A total of 18 702 children <5 years were in the study out of whom 411 had comorbidity from diarrhea and ARI in the 2 weeks prior to the survey. Comorbidity peaked at 6 to 11 months (4.6%). Child's age between 6 and 11 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.48, 95% CI = 2.02-5.99) and caregivers with incomplete primary education (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.11-2.50) were associated with higher odds of comorbidity from diarrhea and ARI. The main determinants associated with lower odds of combined morbidity from diarrhea and ARI were high wealth quintile (aOR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.39-0.85) and older aged caregivers (aOR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.23-0.95). However, we found no association between nutritional status of a child, sex, residence, exclusive breastfeeding between 0 and 6 months, and combined morbidity from diarrhea and ARI. Conclusion: Programs aimed at reducing comorbidity should target children between 6 and 11 months and deliberate emphasis should be placed on addressing barriers to wealth and caregivers' education.

Succeeding in New Vaccine Introduction: Lessons Learned From the Introduction of Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine in Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria.

Introducing a new vaccine is a large-scale endeavor that can face many challenges, resulting in introduction delays and inefficiencies. The development of national task teams and tools, such as prelaunch trackers, for the introduction of new vaccines (hereafter, "new vaccine introductions" [NVIs]) can help countries implement robust project management systems, front-load critical preparatory activities, and ensure continuous communication around vaccine supply and financing. In addition, implementing postlaunch assessments to take rapid corrective action accelerates the uptake of the new vaccines. NVIs can provide an opportunity to strengthen routine immunization, through strengthening program management systems or by reinforcing local immunization managers' abilities, among others. This article highlights key lessons learned during the introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine in 3 countries that would make future NVIs more successful. The article concludes by considering how the Immunization Systems Management Group of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has been useful to the NVI process and how such global structures could be further enhanced.