Integration of COVID-19 Vaccination into Routine Health Services Increases Vaccination Rate
UNICEF, with support from Gavi, accelerated efforts aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccination especially in high-risk, vulnerable and marginalized groups and communities
Port Loko, 13 February 2026 – Joined by her co-worker, Adama Mansaray, a nurse at Kamaranka Community Health Centre carefully opened a refrigerator and packed a handful of COVID-19 vaccination doses and other vaccines into a small portable cool box with ice packs and was ready to go. They were met at the doorsteps of the health centre by a Community Health Worker (CHW) carrying some COVID-19 sensitization posters and leaflets. She accompanied them to a community outreach.
They walked out of the small building and proceeded through a path of thin shrubs and after 10 minutes arrived at the centre of the village where the chief’s house is located. After unpacking their vaccination materials and implements on a table, they walked around the village beckoning people to converge at the centre.
“Go to the chief’s house now to take your COVID-19 vaccination!” she shouted so that she could attract as many people as possible while the CHW hang up banners and pasted posters on the walls of houses and other visible spots in the village.
Soon, a sizeable number of people had clustered around the table and sat on benches that had been neatly arranged for this exercise.
“COVID-19 is a contagious virus that spreads from one person to another, and it sometimes leads to fatality,” Adama said calmly and emphatically as a small group of people, including mothers carrying their babies, fathers, and community elders listened with rapt attention.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential routine health services in Sierra Leone. UNICEF, with support from Gavi and in partnership with the Ministry of Health, accelerated efforts aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccination especially in high-risk, vulnerable and marginalized groups and communities. To increase availability and accessibility, the COVID-19 vaccine was integrated into routine immunization and other essential health services in the country through the COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Support (CDS), a delivery platform aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Sierra Leone. This outreach in Kamaranka is part of the third round of campaigns. The previous two rounds focused on introducing the COVID-19 vaccines, increasing access, and scaling up and expanding coverage, mainly through the implementation of monthly community vaccination surge exercises.
Adama and her team, determined to have as many people vaccinated against the pandemic as possible, engaged in group discussions with community members, moved from house-to-house to increase awareness, and stimulate changes in behaviour and attitudes.
“We always face a lot of resistance in our community outreaches, and it is difficult to persuade people that the disease is real and still out there and could lead to deaths if preventive measures such as vaccination and raising awareness are not carried out to curb its spread,” Adama lamented.
The fight against COVID-19 is fraught with many rumours and misconceptions, including the misconception that the COVID-19 vaccine is a ploy to reduce the population of developing countries. Adama and her team calmly discussed these concerns, provided the right information and vaccinated people once sensitized on the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines.
“We persuade people as best as we can and even share examples and testimonies of people who have taken the vaccine without any complications,” she continued.
Mariatu, a 36-year mother of five, who had taken the COVID-19 vaccine in previous rounds, is a supporter who strongly believes in the benefits of the vaccinations.
“Like many other people, I was also apprehensive of the vaccine but after I took it without any complications, I became convinced and encouraged my husband and children to do the same,” she said with a broad smile.
Many converts like Mariatu are now in several communities, serving as supporters of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign to complement the efforts of health workers to get as many people as possible vaccinated to eliminate the spread of COVID-19.
