Community Health Workers (CHWs) and immunization

Global chronic health worker shortages and stagnating routine immunization rates require new strategies to increase vaccination coverage and equity. Research has demonstrated that task shifting, including the use of community health workers (CHWs) to deliver care, can improve population health.

As trusted members of the communities they serve, CHWs bridge the gap between communities and the formal health system. They build trust, understand community needs, and help families navigate access to care. Through their close relationships, CHWs can influence behaviors to vaccinate, combat misinformation, reduce levels of vaccine hesitancy, and provide post-vaccination support. Their deep understanding of cultural norms and barriers within their community enables them to deliver empathetic, context-specific care.

Evidence shows that CHWs can positively impact immunization demand, access, equity, uptake, and quality, particularly for hard-to-reach populations who do not interact with fixed health facilities. If properly supported, CHWs can play a range of key roles, from planning outreach to conducting vaccinations, providing follow-up care and preparing for the next campaign. Leveraging CHWs as vaccinators is a promising yet under-explored task-shifting approach that shows potential to help countries maximize their health workforce, increase vaccination coverage and reach more zero-dose children.

This hot topic compiles evidence of CHW effectiveness across these roles across the immunization service delivery spectrum.

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