Improving the Effectiveness of an Integrated Measles and Meningitis A Immunization Campaign

Key Messages

Improving the Effectiveness of an Integrated Measles and Meningitis A Immunization Campaign

Collaborative planning of an integrated campaign in a context of multiple epidemics

Summary

An exploration of the enablers, barriers and promising practices towards an integrated meningitis A and measles vaccination campaign in Guinea, during a time of multiple epidemics and COVID-19.

Guinea

Kankan region

Immunization

Measles and Meningitis A

Promising Practices

Leverage a trusted intervention as an integration platform to increase acceptability.
Establish procedures that reduce delays in remuneration to health workers.
Decentralize decision-making and prioritize local action in areas most at risk of epidemics.
Click here for the full list of promising practices.

Key Messages

FOSAD-CEFORPAG in Guinea explains the collaborative planning process, enablers, barriers and promising practices for an integrated campaign of two childhood vaccination campaigns for meningitis A (MenAfrivac, a newly introduced vaccine) and measles (second dose, MEAS2) for children aged 13-24 months in Guinea in an integrated campaign.

Collaborative planning strengthens preparedness and increases the likelihood of success of an integrated campaign, achieves human resources, time, and cost savings, and encourages stakeholder participation.
Assessing community acceptability and concerns is a key part of the collaborative planning process.
Governments should consider decentralized decision-making during times of competing priorities to allow areas most at risk of epidemics to implement their own campaigns more efficiently.
The national government’s support in convening and facilitating collaborative pre-planning and planning is critical to the success of integrated campaigns.
Governments should consider decentralized decision-making on integrated campaigns during times of competing priorities to allow regions and districts most at risk of epidemics to implement campaigns more efficiently when national priorities shift.
The national government’s support in convening and facilitating collaborative pre-planning and planning is critical to the success of integrated campaigns.
Adverse events following immunization (AEFI) are a major concern of caregivers, therefore community sensitization and AEFI response planning are essential to an integrated campaign’s success.
Partners can play a key role by providing strategic guidance, funding, planning and operational support for the integrated campaign.
Administrative procedures and delays in remuneration to vaccine workers may result in challenges to implementation; therefore, procedures should be adapted to facilitate timely advances and electronic payments.

Decentralized decision-making power would enable local areas to proceed with integrated campaigns in high-risk regions despite shifting national priorities.

Key Messages