Research: Landscape Analysis of Routine Immunization in Nigeria (LARI)
International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC)/Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
April 2012
The study was conducted with the collaboration of the government of Nigeria and Solina Health and identified high-impact solutions in the areas of financing and vaccine security, transportation, cold chain technology, performance management, advocacy, leadership and demand creation that together have the potential to significantly improve vaccine access. Currently, access to and availability of vaccines varies widely among the country’s 36 states and vaccine stock-outs remain common, particularly in the poorest and most remote areas.
“Nigerian government leaders have made major improvements in routine immunizations over the past three years,” said Dr. Orin Levine, Executive Director of IVAC. “But the full promise of immunization and its economic benefits won’t be fully realized until vaccines reach every Nigerian child.”
Some of the specific solutions proposed in the LARI study include the establishment of government basket funds for local immunization programs; transportation contracts and ongoing vehicle maintenance to improve delivery from state cold stores to community clinics; provision of solar refrigeration and satellite cold storage units to keep vaccines at a viable temperature despite challenges involving distance and power outages; mid-level management training to staff responsible for vaccine delivery; and text message reminders and incentive programs such as conditional cash transfers to parents to improve vaccine uptake and timeliness.
vaccines and global health :: ethics and policy 