Key result
National immunization days in Ecuador and El Salvador showed limited impact on short-term coverage and questionable effects on long-term coverage and disease incidence.
Vertical immunization campaigns like NIDs may have limited long-term impact on disease incidence and can undermine routine health services.
Questions value of NIDs for sustained coverage; leaves open optimal strategies to bolster routine services.
Since the mid-1980s international donors have promoted vertical, campaign-based strategies to help improve immunization coverage in poor countries. National immunization days (NIDs) are currently in vogue and are prominent in the worldwide polio eradication efforts. In spite of their widespread use, campaigns that include NIDs have not been well evaluated for their effects on coverage, reduction in vaccine-preventable diseases, or effects on the health system. An assessment of the results of two such campaigns implemented in Ecuador and El Salvador shows limited impact on short-term coverage and questionable effects on long-term coverage and disease incidence. Although NIDs may have substantial short-term political benefits, the vertical approach can undermine provision of routine services by ministries of health and may be counterproductive in the long-term.
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Gloyd et al. (2003) conducted a review in Immunization coverage. National immunization days (NIDs) was evaluated on Short-term and long-term immunization coverage and disease incidence. National immunization days in Ecuador and El Salvador showed limited impact on short-term coverage and questionable effects on long-term coverage and disease incidence.
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