Vaccination Coverage Cluster Surveys in Middle Dreib – Akkar, Lebanon: Comparison of Vaccination Coverage in Children Aged 12-59 Months Pre- and Post-Vaccination Campaign

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>With the high proportion of refugee population throughout Lebanon and continuous population movement, it is sensible to believe that, in particular vulnerable areas, vaccination coverage may not be at an optimal level. Therefore, we assessed the vaccination coverage in children under 5 in a district of the Akkar governorate before and after a vaccination campaign. During the vaccination campaign, conducted in August 2015, 2,509 children were vaccinated.</p><p>Materials and Methods</p><p>We conducted a pre- and post-vaccination campaign coverage surveys adapting the WHO EPI cluster survey to the Lebanese MoPH vaccination calendar. Percentages of coverage for each dose of each vaccine were calculated for both surveys. Factors associated with complete vaccination were explored.</p><p>Results</p><p>Comparing the pre- with the post-campaign surveys, coverage for polio vaccine increased from 51.9% to 84.3%, for Pentavalent from 49.0% to 71.9%, for MMR from 36.2% to 61.0%, while the percentage of children with fully updated vaccination calendar increased from 32.9% to 53.8%. While Lebanese children were found to be better covered for some antigens compared to Syrians at the first survey, this difference disappeared at the post-campaign survey. Awareness and logistic obstacles were the primary reported causes of not complete vaccination in both surveys.</p><p>Discussion</p><p>Vaccination campaigns remain a quick and effective approach to increase vaccination coverage in crisis-affected areas. However, campaigns cannot be considered as a replacement of routine vaccination services to maintain a good level of coverage.</p></div

Reported reasons for incomplete vaccination calendar (N = 115 at the 1^st survey, N = 81 at the 2^nd survey)

<p>Reported reasons for incomplete vaccination calendar (N = 115 at the 1^st survey, N = 81 at the 2^nd survey)</p

difference between first and second survey in percentages of each vaccine dose coverage in general, and separated by nationality

<p>difference between first and second survey in percentages of each vaccine dose coverage in general, and separated by nationality</p

Percentage of fully vaccinated children aged 12–59 months for each vaccine and with a complete vaccination calendar, by selected background characteristics and overall at the post-campaign survey

<p>Percentage of fully vaccinated children aged 12–59 months for each vaccine and with a complete vaccination calendar, by selected background characteristics and overall <u>at the post-campaign survey</u></p

Percentage distribution of children aged 12–59 months by selected background characteristics

<p>Percentage distribution of children aged 12–59 months by selected background characteristics</p

factors associated with being fully vaccinated at the second survey. Measure expressed as Odds Ratio (OR)

<p>factors associated with being fully vaccinated at the second survey. Measure expressed as Odds Ratio (OR)</p

percentages of each vaccine dose coverage in general and separated by nationality at the second survey

<p>percentages of each vaccine dose coverage in general and separated by nationality <u>at the second survey</u></p

Change between pre- and post-campaign in percentage of fully vaccinated children aged 12–59 months for each vaccine and with a complete vaccination calendar, by selected background characteristics and overall

<p>Change between pre- and post-campaign in percentage of fully vaccinated children aged 12–59 months for each vaccine and with a complete vaccination calendar, by selected background characteristics and overall</p

percentages of each vaccine dose coverage in general and separated by nationality at the first survey

<p>percentages of each vaccine dose coverage in general and separated by nationality <u>at the first survey</u></p