title: Expanding and improving urban outreach immunization in Patna, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a case study of an urban immunization outreach strategy to determine the feasibility of the intervention and to measure administrative immunization coverage outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multipronged strategy for improving immunization coverage in Urban Patna, India, was implemented for 1 year (2009/2010). The strategy was designed to increase immunization sites, shift human resources, plan logistics, improve community mobilization, provide supervision, strengthen data flow and implement special vaccination drives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 1 year, the coverage of all primary vaccines of the Universal Immunization Program improved by over 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coverage can be rapidly improved through outreach immunization in low socioeconomic areas if existing opportunities are carefully utilized.
authors.affiliation: UNICEF, Field Office of Bihar, Patna, India. narottamp@unops.org
authors.forename: Narottam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: Tove K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Ryman
authors.forename: Sherin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varkey
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranjan
authors.forename: Satish K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Gopal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Swetanki
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D006285:Health Planning; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007194:India; D009934:Organization and Administration; D011203:Poverty; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D014611:Vaccination; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines