Covid-19 vaccination, an opportunity to support routine vaccination to save lives

One in five children in the world does not receive life-saving routine vaccines, and an estimated 1.5 million children die every year from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines that already exist. People who delay or refuse vaccines for themselves or their children pose a challenge around the world, and this is no exception in the Central African Republic, especially in the prefecture of Ouham-Pendé.

In the Bocaranga-Koui health district of Ouham-Pendé, reluctance to be vaccinated, combined with a lack of available vaccines, poses a serious health threat to children.

“Finding “lost-sight” children and mothers who don’t follow the vaccination schedule, out of fear, habit or because of harvest periods is a big challenge for us here in Bocaranga”, explains Jonathan, a community health worker based in Yénguéré near Bocaranga. As a vaccinator, he plays a vital role in educating communities and encouraging them to get vaccinated.

The funding from USAID has permitted the transportation of vaccines through equipped vehicles and solar refrigerators and their storage in cold rooms to ensure that enough quantities can be distributed to health districts, health facilities and vaccination points, especially in remote areas. The support has also enabled the provision of solar lightings for the sanitary facilities in zone.

“Now that vaccines are available in our district, our children have access to free vaccines according to vaccination schedules as well as people over the age of 15 with Covid19 vaccines,” says Jonathan.

UNICEF has also strengthened the capacity of community influencers and health actors to improve their knowledge of community outreach and engagement, help mothers who are reluctant to get vaccinated understand the importance of vaccination for the development and healthy lifestyle of their children.

By the end of 2022, 3129 children had received the 3rd dose of Pentavalent3, 3314 had received the measles vaccine, and 109,460 people aged 15 and older had been vaccinated against COVID-19 in this district.