title: Childhood immunisation in Bungoma County, Kenya, from 2008 to 2011: need for improved uptake.
abstract: Uptake of immunisations in children aged 1-2 years in Bungoma County, Kenya, was determined as part of the 6-monthly Health and Demographic Surveillance System surveys. A total of 2699 children were assessed between 2008 and 2011. During this time period, full immunisation declined significantly from 84% to 58%, and measles vaccine declined uptake from 89% to 60% (P < 0.001). Each year there was a significant fall-off for the third doses of the oral polio and pentavalent vaccines (P < 0.001). These findings are of concern, as low immunisation coverage may lead to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. Further investigations into the reasons for declining immunisation trends are required.
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Mbuthia
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France ; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harries
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Obala
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
authors.forename: H D N
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Nyamogoba
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simiyu
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Edginton
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Brussels Operation Center, Medecins Sans Frontières, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khogali
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hedt-Gauthier
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Otsyla
keywords: childhood vaccinations; health and demographic surveillance systems; measles; operational research