Post 00596e : Vaccination Coverage

POST 00596E : VACCINATION COVERAGE 26 August 2003 ________________________________________ Robert Steinglass (mailto:[log in to unmask]) from BASICS is presenting two interesting Powerpoint presentations showing DTP3 vaccination coverage for the last three years in the world using two different sources of data. Both match pretty well. Together with Robert's accompanying message they highlight the permanent challenge ahead of us. The slideshows are relatively large and we are sending them in two separate messages. A few members may not be able to receive them and downloading may take a long time in certain places. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience that we hope will be compensated by the interest of the slideshows. _________________________________________ Dear Colleagues, I hope you will find the attached simple graphs a useful complementary way to view immunization performance. The graphs show which countries have managed to maintain DTP3 coverage >80% for each of the last three years. One set of graphs uses WHO/UNICEF "Best Estimates" and the other uses reported data through WHO's Computerized EPI Information System. There are graphs for each WHO region and for the world as a whole. For equity, poverty reduction and epidemiological reasons, the immunization community has begun appropriately to focus attention on the uniform distribution of benefits across smaller sub-national geographic areas and populations. National targets of 80% have now become 90%, with the aim to achieve 80% in every district. At higher levels, the immunization community monitors achievement of performance targets in individual countries for a given year. But continuity and maintenance of that performance in individual countries could be better emphasized. Since indicators used for monitoring reflect what we think is important to achieve, I think we need also to pay attention to how well individual countries are doing at national level in distributing and maintaining benefits OVER TIME. Just as national data mask sub-national disparities, annual data can mask sustained accomplishment. The attached graphs may be of use to increase the focus on continuous performance and sustained support. Robert Robert Steinglass Immunization Team Leader BASICS _____________________ Visit the TECHNET21 Website at http://www.technet21.org You will find instructions to subscribe, a direct access to archives, links to reference documents and other features. ______________________________________________________________________________ To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message to : mailto:[log in to unmask] Leave the subject area BLANK In the message body, write unsubscribe TECHNET21E ______________________________________________________________________________ The World Health Organization and UNICEF support TechNet21. The TechNet21 e-Forum is a communication/information tool for generation of ideas on how to improve immunization services. It is moderated by Claude Letarte and is hosted in cooperation with the Centre de internationale en sant, Canada (http://www.ccisd.org) ______________________________________________________________________________ ##text##