Objective
To describe the results, achievements, and lessons learned through administrative coverage and rapid monitoring of a follow-up vaccination campaign, in the context of political prioritization and micro-planning as determining factors in the different stages of follow-up campaigns, and the application of these good practices to strengthen the National Immunization Program.
Method
This is a special descriptive epidemiological report on a high-quality follow-up vaccination campaign in Ecuador. The sources of information used were: population estimates from the 2010 and 2022 censuses carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Census; calculation of the susceptible cohort for vaccination with the bivalent vaccine (measles and rubella) and with the oral and injectable polio vaccines; definition of vaccination strategies and tactics, and vaccine scheduling by type and age group; and macro- and micro-planning instruments generated at the local level, which involve quantitative variables related to human, material, logistic, and financial resources. Achievement of high-quality criteria and indicators for follow-up vaccination campaigns were also assessed, including effectiveness, homogeneity, timeliness, simultaneity, efficiency, and rapid monitoring.
Results
The micro-planning process was fully implemented nationwide in 95% of health facilities (1879) four weeks prior to implementation of the follow-up campaign. High-quality follow-up was conducted over 14 weeks: 3 395 716 children aged 1-12 years were vaccinated and 99% administrative coverage was achieved, with 71% of provinces (17) reaching ≥95% coverage. In the remaining 29% of provinces (7), coverage rates were between 90% and 94%, with a total of 5 556 128 doses of bivalent vaccine and oral or injectable polio vaccine. Based on the quality criteria, the country achieved 95% of the targeted results.
Conclusions
Political support and prioritization, together with the implementation of high-quality micro-planning of the follow-up vaccination campaign generated at the local level, enabled the achievement of targets and results at ≥95% coverage. This is an innovative and successful public health experience that has strengthened the National Immunization Program in Ecuador and other countries in the Region of the Americas. Local health teams conducted micro-planning adapted to the local context, using the methodology and instruments to identify areas of responsibility in orderly, systematic intramural and extramural vaccination campaigns.