System and facility readiness assessment for conducting active surveillance of adverse events following immunization in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Journal
International Health
Journal Volume
15
Journal Issue
6
Start Page
676-683
ISSN
1876-3413
1876-3405
Date Issued
2023-01-09
Author(s)
Eden Dagnachew Zeleke
Getnet Yimer
Leuel Lisanework
Robert T Chen
Shu-Hua Wang
Sarah D Bennett
Eyasu Makonnen
Abstract
Background: To help distinguish vaccine-related adverse events following immunization (AEFI) from coincidental occurrences, active vaccine pharmacovigilance (VP) prospective surveillance programs are needed. From February to May 2021, we assessed the system and facility readiness for implementing active AEFI VP surveillance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: Selected hospitals were assessed using a readiness assessment tool with scoring measures. The site assessment was conducted via in-person interviews within the specific departments in each hospital. We evaluated the system readiness with a desk review of AEFI guidelines, Expanded Program for Immunization Guidelines and Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration and Ethiopian Public Health Institute websites.
Results: Of the hospitals in Addis Ababa, 23.1% met the criteria for our site assessment. During the system readiness assessment, we found that essential components were in place. However, rules, regulations and proclamations pertaining to AEFI surveillance were absent. Based on the tool, the three hospitals (A, B and C) scored 60.6% (94/155), 48.3% (75/155) and 40% (62/155), respectively.
Conclusions: Only one of three hospitals assessed in our evaluation scored >50% for readiness to implement active AEFI surveillance. We also identified the following areas for improvement to ensure successful implementation: training, making guidelines and reporting forms available and ensuring a system that accommodates paper-based and electronic-based recording systems.
Subjects
active vaccination surveillance
adverse events following immunization (AEFI)
readiness assessment
vaccine pharmacovigilance
SDGs
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Type
journal article