How is the restrictive vaccine vial opening policy of the childhood vaccination programme experienced by health care workers and health facility users? A qualitative study in rural Guinea-Bissau

IF 3.9 3区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Public Health Pub Date : 2025-04-03 DOI:10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.038

Julie Odgaard Vedel , Jailson Sydenei Dias Martins , Igualdino Da Silva Borges , Quique Bassat , Ane Bærent Fisker , Maria Maixenchs

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Any remaining doses of unpreserved multi-dose vaccines must be discarded 6 h after reconstitution. In many countries, these multi-dose vaccines are only opened if a certain number of children are present. In Guinea-Bissau, this results in health facilities (HFs) limiting BCG, measles, and yellow fever vaccinations to predefined days.

This study aims to explore views, perceptions and experiences of caregivers of vaccine-eligible children and health care workers (HCWs) on the vaccination programme and restrictive vial opening policy (RVOP).

Study design

A qualitative study nested within an ongoing vaccine trial in rural Guinea-Bissau.

Methods

Focus group discussions (FGDs) and semi-structured interviews were conducted in the regions Biombo, Oio, and Farim and a thematic networks analysis was performed.

Results

Vaccines were well considered, and no caregivers (n = 29, 4 FGDs) or HCWs (n = 9), expressed negative perceptions of vaccines.

Most caregivers reported several difficulties in seeking and obtaining vaccinations, especially unpreserved multi-dose vaccines, including vaccine stock-outs, HCW strikes, cost/availability of transportation, and waiting time at HFs. Many stated returning to the same HFs repeatedly was their only option for obtaining vaccinations.

Most HCWs perceived the RVOP as a logical result of limited vaccine availability but balancing vaccine uptake and dose wastage negatively affected their sense of purpose and job satisfaction.

To optimize the vaccination process, many participants recommended abandoning the RVOP, and allocating more resources to the HFs.

Conclusions

The RVOP afflicts both caregivers and HCWs and is one of several persisting barriers for vaccinations in rural Guinea-Bissau that should be addressed.

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来源期刊

Public Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

280

审稿时长

37 days

期刊介绍： Public Health is an international, multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal. It publishes original papers, reviews and short reports on all aspects of the science, philosophy, and practice of public health.