title: Coverage and acceptability of cholera vaccine among high-risk population of urban Dhaka, Bangladesh.
abstract: The oral cholera vaccine (Shanchol), along with other interventions, is a potential new measure to prevent or control cholera. A mass cholera-vaccination programme was launched in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh, during February-April 2011 targeting about 173,041 people who are at high risk of cholera. This cross-sectional, descriptive study assessed the coverage and acceptability of the vaccine. The study used a quantitative household survey and qualitative data-collection techniques comprising focus-group discussions, in-depth interviews, and observations for assessment. The findings revealed that 88% of the target population received the first dose of the vaccine, and 79% received the second dose. Absence of persons at home was a prominent cause of not administering the first (71%) and the second dose (67%). Thirty-three percent of the respondents (n=9308) did not like the taste of the vaccine. Only 1.3% and 3% recipients of the first dose and the second dose of the vaccine respectively reported adverse effects within 28 days of vaccination, and the adverse effects included vomiting or vomiting tendency and diarrhoea. To improve the coverage of the cholera vaccine, exploration of effective solutions to reach the unvaccinated population is required. The vaccine may be more acceptable to the community through changing its taste.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Equity and Health Systems, icddr,b, Bangladesh. Electronic address: jasim@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: Md Jasim
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vaccine Sciences, icddr,b, Bangladesh. Electronic address: tasnuva@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: Tasnuva
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wahed
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vaccine Sciences, icddr,b, Bangladesh. Electronic address: nirod@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: Nirod Chandra
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vaccine Sciences, icddr,b, Bangladesh. Electronic address: bafi80@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sheikh Shah Tanvir
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kaukab
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vaccine Sciences, icddr,b, Bangladesh. Electronic address: iak@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: Iqbal Ansary
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vaccine Sciences, icddr,b, Bangladesh. Electronic address: ashrafk@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: Ashraful Islam
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vaccine Sciences, icddr,b, Bangladesh. Electronic address: amit@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vaccine Sciences, icddr,b, Bangladesh. Electronic address: fchowdhury@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: Fahima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Office of the Executive Director, icddr,b, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh. Electronic address: jclemens@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: John David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Clemens
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vaccine Sciences, icddr,b, Bangladesh. Electronic address: fqadri@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: Firdausi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qadri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002771:Cholera / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022121:Cholera Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance
chemical_list: D022121:Cholera Vaccines
keywords: Acceptability; Bangladesh; Cholera vaccine; Coverage; High-risk population