Rationale and definition:

Nearly every country currently has a country-specific schedule of vaccines to be received. At the global level, WHO recommends that all children receive vaccination against BCG, Hepatitis B, Polio, DTP, Haemophilus influenza type b, Pneumococcal (Conjugate), Rotavirus, Measles, Rubella, and that adolescent girls (aged 9-13) receive vaccination against HPV.¹ This indicator measures the percent of children and adolescents who have received all immunizations at the appropriate age, as recommended by their national schedule or, in the absence of a national vaccination schedule, the WHO schedule. Countries may also wish to include additional vaccinations, such as tetanus, yellow fever, etc., as recommended by the WHO’s Global Vaccine Action Plan.²

Disaggregation:

By sex, age and urban/rural. Other opportunities for disaggregation to be reviewed.

Comments and limitations:

This indicator should be supported by data on all individual vaccines as it is unlikely that countries will meet full immunization requirements. In addition, in most countries national schedules cover fewer vaccines than WHO recommends. In these countries, Ministries of Health should work with WHO to ensure they have an appropriate schedule.

Preliminary assessment of current data availability by Friends of the Chair:

A

Primary data source:

Household surveys. Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) also include this information.

Potential lead agency or agencies:

WHO currently collects data on immunization. UNICEF and GAVI are other important stakeholders.