Introduction

This study session deals with how to determine vaccine needs and how to keep your stock of vaccines in a reliable way, so that your immunization programme will not be interrupted as a result of shortage of supply. We also explain how to avoid wastage of vaccines by reducing the risk that the stock will pass its expiry date. The study session involves a lot of calculations using basic mathematics (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) and using letters to represent values that you will need to measure or estimate. You are advised to apply your own data after each of the examples given here, to help you understand how the calculations apply in your setting.