Summary

In this study session, you have learned that:

1. Monitoring of immunization programmes is very important for the planning and management of the EPI. It is the process of continuous observation and data collection, with the aim of comparing what you have achieved with your planning targets.
2. Monitoring your immunization programme includes proper use of EPI recording tools: the infant immunization cards, the EPI Registration Book (Immunization Register) and the tally sheets for each immunization session.
3. The Immunization Register helps you record the immunization services offered to each client. You must register infants and pregnant women as soon as they arrive at your Health Post or outreach site, before giving any immunizations or vitamin A supplements.
4. Tally sheets are used as the basis of your monthly or quarterly Summary Reports.
5. EPI indicators include Penta1 to Penta3 coverage, Penta1 to measles vaccine coverage, percentage of fully immunized children, percentage of women in the childbearing age-group (pregnant and non-pregnant) receiving more than two doses of TT vaccine, and protection at birth (PAB) against neonatal tetanus.
6. Estimates of whether implementation of the immunization service will (or has the potential to) reduce the target EPI diseases are obtained through measuring immunization coverage rates and dropout rates for each vaccine.
7. Pentavalent 1 coverage (and Penta1 to Penta3 dropout) is an internationally accepted measure of accessibility to the health facility; pentavalent 3 coverage (and Penta3 to measles vaccine dropout) is a measure of utilisation of health services.
8. It is important to trace defaulters by using the immunization register or reminder cards.
9. The immunization data collected should be organised into a complete, timely and accurate summary form. These reports enable you, your supervisor and the area health office to monitor the performance of your immunization service and quickly address any problems.