Tropical Medicine & International Health
March 2012  Volume 17, Issue 3  Pages 263–403
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-3156/currentissue

Child Health
Expanding and improving urban outreach immunization in Patna, India
Narottam Pradhan, Tove K. Ryman, Sherin Varkey, Alok Ranjan, Satish K. Gupta, Gopal Krishna, R. P. Swetanki and Randall Young
Article first published online: 14 DEC 2011 | DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02916.x

Abstract
Objectives  We conducted a case study of an urban immunization outreach strategy to determine the feasibility of the intervention and to measure administrative immunization coverage outcomes.

Methods  A multipronged strategy for improving immunization coverage in Urban Patna, India, was implemented for 1 year (2009/2010). The strategy was designed to increase immunization sites, shift human resources, plan logistics, improve community mobilization, provide supervision, strengthen data flow and implement special vaccination drives.

Results  Over 1 year, the coverage of all primary vaccines of the Universal Immunization Program improved by over 100%.

Conclusion  Coverage can be rapidly improved through outreach immunization in low socioeconomic areas if existing opportunities are carefully utilized.