Dear Field Expert,
Have your say: World Health Organization (WHO) / United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC): a study to explore (i) the use and usefulness of estimates for decision making, and (ii) methodological approaches to improve estimates of national immunization coverage.
Immunization coverage is one of the most widely used outcome and performance indicator to monitor an immunization program, and even health systems. Globally, since 2000, WHO and UNICEF have produced annual estimates of national childhood immunization coverage for selected vaccines. The WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) are informed by data officially reported to WHO and UNICEF by Member States, surveys, and data reported in the published and grey literature. The methodology used to produce WUENIC has been reviewed by external experts and can be found here.
In the face of a changing data landscape, availability of new modelling approaches and tools, and a desire to improve the transparency and usefulness of the estimates, WHO and UNICEF have called for a review of the WUENIC. The proceedings report can be found here.
Sponsored by WHO/UNICEF, Swiss TPH is leading a study to explore the current use and perceived usefulness of estimates to inform improvements to global estimates of national immunization coverage. Our approach will include:
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Profiling of the different types of use-cases of the current estimates and any influence on decision-making (programmatic, funding, priority-setting, etc);
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Gathering stakeholder perceptions regarding the credibility, accuracy and utility of coverage estimates;
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Identifying, and where appropriate, integrating, other potential data sources that would be useful for improved estimates.
To achieve this, we are inviting a broad range of stakeholders to complete our online survey. We hope to draw representation from immunization and non-immunization experts who are either current or historic users of immunization global statistics, and where identifiable, those who may use them in the future.
As a field expert, we would like to ask about your views and experiences. These are paramount in order to inform WHO and UNICEF about what is perceived as important in the area of data and data quality by stakeholders.
There are two online surveys (direct links below); each should take around 15 minutes.
If you would like to contribute, we would be most grateful. Your views can shape the future discussions and progress on vaccination coverage estimates.
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Survey 1 – Modelling estimates – https://forms.gle/9dUMZb1zABRdbkmb8
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Survey 2 – Data quality and data use – https://forms.gle/ifX9TsAGqWbLBrY77
Many thanks for your time.
Kind regards,
Dr. Xavier Bosch-Capblanch
Study Coordinator