[Delegation of immunization tasks to community actors: an innovative strategy to achieve the immunization target during a measles-rubella vaccination campaign in a high-security risk area, Ouargaye, Burkina Faso, 2024].

Abstract

Introduction: conflicts negatively impact vaccination indicators. To improve vaccination coverage, the Ouargaye health district an area facing security challenges trained community actors from certain closed health facilities on vaccination. This study aims to highlight the contribution of these community actors to achieving vaccination coverage during the measles-rubella vaccination campaign held from March 15 to 21, 2024.

Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to April 30, 2024. The sample included all community actors trained in vaccination and the entire target population of the measles-rubella vaccination campaign across the nine health facilities concerned by the strategy. Data were collected using a documentary analysis framework. The contribution of community actors to vaccination coverage was assessed using a Chi-square test, with a significance threshold set at 5%.

Results: over the seven days of the campaign, 5,403 children were vaccinated by community actors, representing 28.65% (5,403/18,853) of the target population. Community actors contributed significantly to achieving vaccination coverage in the nine targeted health facilities. This contribution was statistically significant (p-value < 2.2e-16). Among the 5,403 children vaccinated by community actors, only four cases of adverse post-vaccination events were reported.

Conclusion: Delegating vaccination tasks to community actors in high-security risk areas enhances vaccination coverage during immunization campaigns.