title: Using a school-based approach to deliver immunization—global update.
abstract: Vaccines, such as HPV vaccine, are increasingly administered to school-age children, and school-based immunization is an approach that can be used to reach these children. Limited information has thus far been published that provides an overview of the school-based approach worldwide. This article, based on self-reported data from countries, summarizes the extent to which a school-based immunization approach is used around the world, and what antigens are most frequently being administered. Of the 174 countries for which data on school-based immunization were available, ninety five countries reported using a school-based approach for immunization. Children in grades 1 and 6 (or at an age corresponding with these grades) are most often targeted, and tetanus and diphtheria toxoids are the most frequently administered antigens. The impact of the school-based approach may be reduced in areas with low school attendance, unless specific measures are taken to target out-of-school children. Methods to monitor coverage need to be standardized and data on coverage and on the reach of the approach need to be more systematically analyzed and reported.
authors.affiliation: UNICEF Health/Program Division, 3 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017 United States. Electronic address: jvandelaer@unicef.org.
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vandelaer
authors.affiliation: UNICEF Health/Program Division, 3 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017 United States.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olaniran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: Adolescents; Booster doses; Immunization; Schedule; School; School-age children; School-based; Vaccine