Cost-effectiveness of routine and campaign vaccination strategies in Ecuador

ABSTRACT

A national household coverage survey of 3697 Ecuadorean children, carried out in July 1986, provided an opportunity for a cost-effectiveness analysis of (1) routine vaccination services based in fixed facilities and (2) mass immunization campaigns. A major purpose of the campaigns was to complement the routine services and to accelerate immunization activities. Based on the coverage survey, the Program for Reduction of Maternal and Childhood Illness (PREMI) and earlier campaigns increased the proportion of children under 5 years who were fully vaccinated from 43 per cent to 64 per cent. In one year, the PREMI campaign was responsible for fully vaccinating 11 per cent of children under one year, 21 per cent of 1-2-year-old children, and 13 per cent of all children under 5 years. The campaign also helped ensure that vaccinations were completed when children were still very young and at greatest risk