Building Data Triangulation Capacity for Routine Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance Programs to Identify Immunization Coverage Inequities

• Published in: Vaccines (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 6; p. 646
• Main Authors: Rachlin, Audrey, Adegoke, Oluwasegun Joel, Bohara, Rajendra, Rwagasore, Edson, Sibomana, Hassan, Kabeja, Adeline, Itanga, Ines, Rwunganira, Samuel, Mafende Mario, Blaise, Rosette, Nahimana Marie, Usman Obansa, Ramatu, Abah, Angela Ukpojo, Adeoye, Olorunsogo Bidemi, Sikare, Ester, Lam, Eugene, Murrill, Christopher S, Montesanti Porter, Angela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.06.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: capacity building; Capacity development; Data sources; data visualization; Decision making; Disease control; Health care; health equity; Health services; Health surveillance; Immunization; Indicators; Information management; Information systems; Methods; Project Report; Surveillance; Triangulation; Vaccination; Vaccines; United States; Bangladesh; Nigeria; United States > US; Rwanda; health equity; data visualization; surveillance; immunization; capacity building
• ISSN: 2076-393X; 2076-393X
• DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060646

The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) Surveillance (VPDS) programs generate multiple data sources (e.g., routine administrative data, VPD case data, and coverage surveys). However, there are challenges with the use of these siloed data for programmatic decision-making, including poor data accessibility and lack of timely analysis, contributing to missed vaccinations, immunity gaps, and, consequently, VPD outbreaks in populations with limited access to immunization and basic healthcare services. Data triangulation, or the integration of multiple data sources, can be used to improve the availability of key indicators for identifying immunization coverage gaps, under-immunized (UI) and un-immunized (zero-dose (ZD)) children, and for assessing program performance at all levels of the healthcare system. Here, we describe the data triangulation processes, prioritization of indicators, and capacity building efforts in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Rwanda. We also describe the analyses used to generate meaningful data, key indicators used to identify immunization coverage inequities and performance gaps, and key lessons learned. Triangulation processes and lessons learned may be leveraged by other countries, potentially leading to programmatic changes that promote improved access and utilization of vaccination services through the identification of UI and ZD children.