An oral cholera vaccine (OCV) campaign
took place as a complementary measure to improved water, sanitation, and
hygiene and health promotion in selected high-risk villages for cholera outbreak
in Nuwakot and Dhading. The vaccination campaign was conducted in two rounds.
The first round started on 8th August through 12th August 2015 (house to house
visit: 11th 12th August 2015) and the second round took place between
30th August through 3rd Sept 2015 (mop-up: 2nd - 3rd Sept 2015).
The campaign targeted a population of
10,084 aged one year and above in camps of internally displaced persons (IDPs)
due to recent earthquake in one cluter and another cluster of villages considered
to be at high risk of possible cholera outbreaks. Given the fact that OCV
requires two doses, we utilized 21000 doses which were already in stock with
Government of Nepal.
This vaccination campaign was
organized with active mobilization of Female Community Health Volunteers
(FCHVs) at various vaccination sites. Tally sheets, daily summary sheets and
adverse events following immunization (AEFI) reporting forms were used to
record data at each vaccination site and respective health facilities.
During the first round 10540 people
out of 10,084 targeted were vaccinated (100.5 % coverage). During the second
round 10112 people received the vaccine out of 10540 (96 % coverage). In
overall, the coverage was satisfactory with percentage of those taking two
doses was 95 %. There was no issue with taste of the vaccine and was not
considered any barrier to its acceptance in the community.
The campaign will set a basis for future prevention
and control plans to eliminate cholera and documentation and publication of the
lessons learned.
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