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What is vaccine coverage?
- Vaccine coverage is a measure of the percentage or proportion of individuals who have been vaccinated within a given population.
- Vaccine coverage is an important indicator of the effectiveness and success of a vaccination program. It helps assess the level of protection provided by vaccines against specific diseases within a community. High vaccine coverage rates are essential for achieving herd immunity, which occurs when a significant portion of the population is immune to a particular disease, thereby reducing its transmission and protecting vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated.
- High coverage of the first dose of DTP-containing vaccine (DTP1) indicates good access to primary healthcare facilities; by contrast, a high proportion of zero-dose children suggest either low access to services or lack of acceptance of vaccination.
- Vaccine coverage can be measured in a number of ways using data from immunization registries, routine administrative reports or surveys. WHO provides guidance on methods for measuring immunization coverage through surveys
