Catch-up vaccination
Vaccination at clinic in Siem Reap
Timely vaccination is key to maintaining population immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), ensuring populations are fully protected against life-threatening illnesses as early as possible, and preventing large outbreaks of VPDs. However, scheduled vaccinations may be missed for a number of context-specific reasons (e.g. difficulty accessing health services and other health system barriers, health worker practices, stock outs, beliefs held by caregivers and community members about vaccination, etc.)
No one should miss out on the right to the protection that vaccines offer, simply because they are unable to access services in time.
A catch-up vaccination strategy (which includes a clearly defined catch-up vaccination policy and catch-up schedule) is an essential part of a well-functioning national immunization programme and should be implemented on a continuous basis.
Catch-up vaccination refers to the action of vaccinating an individual who, for whatever reason, is missing or has not received doses of vaccines for which they are eligible, per the national immunization schedule. Catch-up vaccination can be conducted through regular routine immunization service delivery (fixed, outreach, mobile, school-based), periodic intensification of routine immunization (PIRI) activities, or through innovative local strategies that ensure individuals have the opportunity to receive routine immunizations for which they are overdue and eligible. |
The importance of having a catch-up vaccination strategy is more pronounced during or following an emergency, when unavoidable disruptions may require additional specially planned catch-up efforts to address large immunization gaps.
Guidance for planning and implementing catch-up
WHO has developed guidance to assist national immunization programmes to establish or refine a catch-up vaccination strategy, as an essential component of the routine immunization programme.
Monitoring and reporting of essential immunization catch-up
Closing Immunity Gaps and Recovering Immunization Programmes
Guiding principles for recovering, building resiliency, and strengthening of immunization...
Catch-up Vaccination Videos
In collaboration with the Immunization Academy, WHO have developed the following short video lessons about catch-up vaccination:
Administering Catch-Up Vaccinations: https://watch.immunizationacademy.com/en/videos/807
Managing Multiple Injections: https://watch.immunizationacademy.com/en/videos/805
How to Record and Report Catch-Up Vaccinations: https://watch.immunizationacademy.com/en/videos/806
