Indicators that Describe the Strength of the Routine Immunization System: Preliminary Learning

Immunization is at the very core of health programs around the world yet its performance is commonly measured by just a single number, namely coverage with a third dose of a vaccine that protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DTP3). While DTP3 coverage is highly useful for describing the ability of the routine immunization system to reach children multiple times, it only tells part of the story. USAID\'s flagship Maternal and Child Survival Project (MCSP) is testing and validating 10 additional indicators to determine their feasibility and value to health personnel from the health facility up to the national level. JSI serves as the immunization technical lead for MCSP.

This brief shares emerging findings from an iterative learning process to understand how these additional indicators can provide managers with essential information to help them improve vaccination coverage and identify the underlying causes of low coverage.