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Informant means6/12/2023 ![]() ![]() It is one of the most clinically and cost-effective public health innovations for promoting child health because of its direct health benefits and positive externalities. Vaccination remains the most effective means of reducing the burden of infectious disease besides clean water and sanitation and has been estimated to prevent between three to about six million vaccine-preventable deaths annually. Further studies on the relationship between attitude towards new vaccines and connection to vaccine hesitancy is necessary. The findings are invaluable for informing design of context-specific interventions by national and county-level immunization stakeholders. Likewise, the use of mainstream and social media outreaches, and vaccine champions could help reduce vaccine hesitancy. Rural community sensitization on both routine childhood immunization and HPV vaccine should be key activities post COVID-19 pandemic. While factors driving low uptake of the newly introduced HPV vaccine were reported to include misinformation about the vaccine, rumors that the vaccine is a form of female contraception, the suspicion that the vaccine is free and available only to girls, poor knowledge of cervical cancer and benefits of HPV vaccine. Insufficient knowledge about vaccines, vaccine supply issues, frequent healthcare worker’s industrial action, poverty, religious beliefs, inadequate vaccination campaigns, distance to vaccination centers, were identified as factors driving low demand or vaccine hesitancy against routine childhood immunization. A total of 41 national and county-level immunization officials and caregivers formed the sample. The data was analyzed using thematic content approach. The data was collected at the national level and counties such as Kilifi, Turkana, Nairobi and Kitui. In-depth Interviews (IDI) was done to collect opinions of caregivers of children 0–23 months and adolescent girls eligible for immunization, and Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine respectively. Key Informant Interviews (KII) was used to obtain information from national and county-level key stakeholders. The study used qualitative research design. The objective of this study is to explore the factors that contribute to low demand or vaccine hesitancy for childhood and adolescent vaccines in Kenya. In Kenya, the coverage is even lower at 83% than the global average of 86%. About 20 million infants are either under or not fully vaccinated, most of whom are in Sub-Saharan Africa region. ![]() However, despite being a successful intervention, basic vaccination coverage remains below the target. It is estimated to prevent between two to three million child deaths annually. Vaccination remains the most effective means of reducing the burden of infectious disease among children. ![]()
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