Erida Nelaj1, Iria Preza1, Anxhela Shehu1, Silva Bino1,2, Albana Fico1,2
1Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania;
2Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania.
Aim: National Immunization Program (NIP) based at Institute of Public Health (IPH) is responsible from planning, monitoring and management of the immunization program at all levels through strong collaboration with Epidemiology units in every Local Health Care Unit (LHCU) which monitor, supervise and assess the immunization services delivered by the primary health care facilities and maternity hospitals. NIP is also responsible for distribution of vaccines and safe injection equipment, vaccine preventable disease surveillance, outbreak response, and organization of supplementary immunization activities. The aim of this evaluation is to identify challenges and indicate possible solution on improving vaccination coverage at every primary care vaccination point.
Methods: Vaccination coverage is reported quarterly and it is updated twice per year. Reporting forms have been improved by changing its format, including also every vaccination point. Vaccination coverage is given for each vaccination antigen and it should be more than 95% not only at national level but at each vaccination level.
Results: A deep analysis of each level indicate also the challenges of reaching every child in every community. Vaccination coverage is more than 95% for most of the antigens in the vaccination schedule but when it comes to Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccination it is lower in different levels and especially in urban areas or small LHCU going even 60%. We have identified a lot of challenges for health care workers at primary level such as difficulties to convince parent to bring children on time for vaccination, difficulties to explain and to address parent’s concerns, staff turnover, reduction of patronage nurses number, etc.
Conclusion: Vaccination at primary health care level should have dedicated staff and more training is needed especially on how to communicate with parents and how to improve the vaccination coverage by reaching every child in every community.
Keywords: immunization program, vaccination coverage, vaccination antigens.