MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity
This project works to ensure all people receive high-quality vaccination services to protect their children and themselves against vaccine-preventable diseases.
MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity applies best practices and explores innovations to increase equitable immunization coverage in USAID partner countries. Aligning with global strategies such as the Immunization Agenda 2030 and Gavi 5.0, the project builds the capacity of countries to identify and overcome barriers to reaching zero‐dose and under‐immunized children and older populations with lifesaving vaccines and other integrated health services. The project also contributes to ongoing global efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on immunization services and helps countries introduce the COVID-19 vaccine.
Strengthening COVID-19 Vaccination Roll-Out
The dynamic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges with rolling out the vaccines demonstrate that country needs shift over time. MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity provides technical capacity assistance to help countries strengthen vaccination roll-out and address new challenges as they emerge.
The project helps countries prepare for COVID-19 vaccine introduction by identifying key priority populations and supporting the design of service delivery strategies to reach them. The project draws on expertise in key areas such as micro-planning for service delivery, training and supervising health care staff, as well as increasing demand for vaccinations, developing communication and community partnerships, and strengthening the supply chain.
Learn how MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity has worked with local partners and governments to vaccinate people in seven countries against COVID-19.
Identifying and Reaching Zero-Dose and Under-Immunized Children
In 2019, an estimated 14 million children were identified as “zero-dose,” meaning they had not received even a single dose of the vaccines that prevent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and other diseases. An additional six million children were under-immunized, having started but not completed the vaccination schedule, and therefore, only partially protected against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and six other diseases.1
MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity aims to reduce the number of zero-dose and under-immunized children in its national and sub-national project areas by identifying root causes of entrenched obstacles. The project also co-designs and implements solutions tailored to local needs in partnership with health workers and communities and works with partners to strengthen capacity to implement solutions.
Facilitating Innovative Partnerships to Increase Vaccine Coverage
MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity helps countries engage new partners from within and beyond the health sector who bring different expertise and approaches to addressing obstacles to equitable immunization coverage. The project mobilizes a diverse set of stakeholders at the sub-national level (such as local NGOs and non-health government agencies) and facilitates deeper engagement with community-level actors to improve immunization quality and utilization.
Are you interested in receiving regular news, documents, and tools on routine immunization? MOMENTUM produces a quarterly immunization newsletter, Immunization in Focus, designed to keep busy public health professionals abreast of developments in the immunization world.
References
- World Health Organization. Weekly epidemiological record. November 13, 2020. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/336590/WER9546-eng-fre.pdf?ua=1.