Vaccine Timing in Nairobi's Informal Settlements: What's the Deal?

In Nairobi's crowded informal settlements, getting kids vaccinated on time isn't always easy. A recent study looked at how well children under five in two big informal settlements, Viwandani and Korogocho, were getting their shots according to schedule.

Key Findings

• BCG Vaccine: About 90% of kids received it within 28 days of birth.
• DTP-Hib-HepB-3 Vaccine: Around 90% of kids between 14 and 18 weeks got it on time.
• Measles Vaccine (MCV1): About 84% of kids received it between 9 and 10 months.

Factors Affecting Vaccination Rates

• Access to Health Services: Caregivers who weren't sure about accessing health services were less likely to get their kids vaccinated on time.
• Geographical Differences: Kids in Viwandani were more likely to get the measles vaccine on time compared to those in Korogocho.
• Religious Factors: Children of Christian caregivers were less likely to get vaccinated on time compared to those whose caregivers weren't religious.

Recommendations

The study suggests that improving outreach programs, engaging with faith-based groups, and setting up reminder systems could help more kids get their vaccines on time, especially for those given later in infancy.