Expanded programme on immunization
Sudan has witnessed a remarkable improvement in routine vaccination coverage during the last few years. The coverage rate of Penta vaccine 3rd dose reached 93% and measles coverage rate was 87%. This was a result of the stable implementation of routine immunization for the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable childhood diseases.
2011 witnessed the introduction of Rota virus vaccine in Sudan, the first country in Africa to introduce Rota vaccine with support from the GAVI Alliance. Rota vaccine addresses severe diarrhoeal disease in infants and young children caused by Rotavirus.
The country was challenged by measles outbreaks with cases reported from the three States of Darfur, Abyei, Blue Nile, Kassala and Red Sea. Measles vaccine follow up campaigns in 2011 were implemented, vaccinating more than 2 million populations covering not only children, campaigns also included adolescents as well as adults.
Routine immunization programme in Sudan has good political support which has been translated into modest financial support. Hence the establishment of post marketing surveillance of intussusceptions and Government co-sharing of the cost of new vaccines has been successfully carried out across the biennium.
In addition, GAVI Alliance approved to support introduction of meningococcal A conjugate vaccine in 2012-2013. This is part of the massive introduction of the vaccine in 25 countries comprising the African meningitis belt, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the disease from Africa.
Aside from the conjugate vaccine, GAVI will also support the vaccination campaign against yellow fever as well as the introduction of pneumococcal vaccine in the country’s routine vaccination programme.
Photos of major EPI activities in Sudan
