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Introduction: Cameroon's cities have a growing concentration of target children not adequately covered by routine immunization programmes., Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study, based on exhaustive sampling of legal health care facilities offering routine immunization services in the health district of Djoungolo (city of Yaoundé). The evaluation of the immunization programmes was based on the "Reaching Every District" approach., Results: Out of the 70 health care facilities that participated in the study, 3 (4.3%) had an updated microplan for routine immunization. Out of the 63 (89.4%) health care facilities with functional refrigerator, 12 (19.0%) vaccinated employing a fixed strategy on daily basis. Fifty-seven (81.0%) health care facilities did not conduct immunization sessions employing advanced strategy. Community participation in routine immunization programs was effective in 1 out of 12 districts health areas. A steadily updated vaccine tracking curve was available in 6 (8.5%) health facilities., Conclusion: The "Reaching Every District" approach implemented in Djoungolo health care district doesn't provide adequate coverage of a maximum rate of targeted children. The effectiveness of realistic microplanning, the regularity of vaccination sessions employing fixed and advanced strategies, action-oriented data monitoring, community revitalization plan to promote immunization are ways to improve the provision of vaccination services in this district., Competing Interests: Les auteurs ne déclarent aucun conflit d'intérêts.

Background: Pneumonia is a main cause of under-five mortality in low-income settings. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has been introduced in many countries as a tool in the disease's prevention. Although PCV's effectiveness has been established, less is known about the effects of introducing additional injectable vaccines into routine immunisation programmes, particularly in the context of resource-constrained settings., Objectives: To explore the effects of PCV introduction on the immunisation programmes and health systems in four low-income countries., Methods: This study was carried out in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya and Mali. Three to four regions and nine to 10 districts were selected within each country. Semi-structured interviews were carried out at national, regional and district levels (n=173). Researcher-administered questionnaires were completed with facility staff (n=124). Routine data on monthly vaccination activities were collected at district and facility levels., Results: PCV was generally well integrated into existing routine immunisation. Little or no impact was found in most areas of the health systems. Some minor effects were found on immunisation programmes, particularly in areas with either planning activities or investments e.g. staff skills were strengthened and there were limited improvements in surveillance. Although health sector workers perceived increases in the coverage of other vaccines following the introduction of PCV, routine service data did not confirm this claim. No substantial impacts were seen in health system management, service delivery or performance., Conclusions: The introduction of PCV had marginal impacts on the Expanded Programme for Immunisation and little to none on broader health systems.

Objective: We aimed to explore the impacts of new vaccine introductions on immunization programmes and health systems in low- and middle-income countries., Methods: We conducted case studies of seven vaccine introductions in six countries (Cameroon, PCV;Ethiopia, PCV; Guatemala, rotavirus; Kenya, PCV; Mali, Meningitis A; Mali, PCV; Rwanda, HPV). Inter-views were conducted with 261 national, regional and district key informants and questionnaires were completed with staff from 196 health facilities. Routine data from districts and health facilities were gathered on vaccination and antenatal service use. Data collection and analysis were structured around the World Health Organisation health system building blocks., Findings: The new vaccines were viewed positively and seemed to integrate well into existing health systems. The introductions were found to have had no impact on many elements within the building blocks framework. Despite many key informants and facility respondents perceiving that the new vaccine introductions had increased coverage of other vaccines, the routine data showed no change. Positive effects perceived included enhanced credibility of the immunisation programme and strengthened health workers' skills through training. Negative effects reported included an increase in workload and stock outs of the new vaccine, which created a perception in the community that all vaccines were out of stock in a facility. Most effects were found within the vaccination programmes; very few were reported on the broader health systems. Effects were primarily reported to be temporary, around the time of introduction only., Conclusion: Although the new vaccine introductions were viewed as intrinsically positive, on the whole there was no evidence that they had any major impact, positive or negative, on the broader health systems.