Reduction in Rubella Virus Active Cases among Children and Adolescents after Rubella Vaccine Implementation in Tanzania: A Call for Sustained High Vaccination Coverage.

Rubella virus (RV) infection in susceptible women during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with congenital Rubella syndrome (CRS). In countries where a vaccination program is implemented, active case surveillance is emphasized. This report documents the magnitude of active cases before and after vaccine implementation in Tanzania.

Factors affecting non-coverage of measles-rubella vaccination among children aged 9-59 months in Tanzania.

Globally, measles remains a major cause of child mortality, and rubella is the leading cause of birth defects among all infectious diseases. In 2012, the World Health Assembly endorsed the Global Vaccine Action Plan that set a target to eliminate Measles-Rubella (MR) in five of the six World Health Organization (WHO) regions by 2020. This was cross-sectional study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Tanzania's human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program: Community awareness, feasibility, and acceptability of a national HPV vaccination program, 2019.

Background: In April 2018, Tanzania introduced the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationally to 14-year-old girls, utilizing routine delivery strategies (i.e. vaccinating girls at health facilities and community outreach, including schools).

National introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Tanzania: Programmatic decision-making and implementation.

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer among women in Tanzania, with approximately 10,000 new cases and 7,000 deaths annually. In April 2018, the Government of Tanzania introduced 2 doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationally to adolescent girls to prevent cervical cancer, following a successful 2-year pilot introduction of the vaccine in the Kilimanjaro Region.

Methods: We interviewed key informants at the national level in Tanzania from February to November 2019, using a semi-structured tool to better understand national decision-making and program implementation.

Lessons learned in the implementation of supplementary immunization activity (SIA) field guidelines for injectable vaccines - Experiences from Tanzania.

Background: To achieve Measles and Rubella elimination and Polio Endgame goals, Tanzania implemented country-wide integrated Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) in October 2019 involving two injectable vaccines of MR and IPV. The SIAs targeted children aged between 9 and 59 months for Measles-Rubella and 18 to 42 months for IPV vaccines. This article aims to share lessons learnt in the implementation of SIAs field guidelines in Tanzania in 2019 to inform future implementation of the SIAs within and outside the country's boundaries.

Immunization costs, from evidence to policy: Findings from a nationally representative costing study and policy translation effort in Tanzania.

Introduction: Information on the costs of routine immunization programs is needed for budgeting, planning, and domestic resource mobilization. This information is particularly important for countries such as Tanzania that are preparing to transition out of support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This study aimed to estimate the total and unit costs for of child immunization in Tanzania from July 2016 to June 2017 and make this evidence available to key stakeholders.

Determinants of Facility-Level Use of Electronic Immunization Registries in Tanzania and Zambia: An Observational Analysis.

Background: As more countries transition from paper-based to electronic immunization registries (EIRs) to collect and track individual immunization data, guidance is needed for successful adoption and use of these systems. Little research is available on the determinants of EIR use soon after introduction. This observational study assesses the determinants of facility health care workers' use of new EIRs in Tanzania and Zambia, implemented during 2016 to 2018.

Improving the efficiency and standards of a National Immunization Program Review: lessons learnt from United Republic of Tanzania.

A National Immunization Program Review (NIP Review) is a comprehensive external assessment of the performance of a country's immunization programme. The number of recommended special-topic NIP assessments, such as those for vaccine introduction or vaccine management, has increased. These assessments often have substantial overlap with NIP reviews, raising concern about duplication.

Integrating Neglected Tropical Disease and Immunization Programs: The Experiences of the Tanzanian Ministry of Health.

Global health practitioners are increasingly advocating for the integration of community-based health-care platforms as a strategy for increasing the coverage of programs, encouraging program efficiency, and promoting universal health-care goals. To leverage the strengths of compatible programs and avoid geographic and temporal duplications in efforts, the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare coordinated immunization and neglected tropical disease programs for the first time in 2014. Specifically, a measles and rubella supplementary vaccine campaign, mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin and albendazole, and Vitamin A were provisionally integrated into a shared community-based delivery platform.

Estimating the costs of the vaccine supply chain and service delivery for selected districts in Kenya and Tanzania.

Having data on the costs of the immunization system can provide decision-makers with information to benchmark the costs when evaluating the impact of new technologies or programmatic innovations. This paper estimated the supply chain and immunization service delivery costs and cost per dose in selected districts in Kenya and Tanzania. We also present operational data describing the supply chain and service delivery points (SDPs).

Qualitative assessment of the integration of HIV services with infant routine immunization visits in Tanzania.

Background: In 2009, a project was implemented in 8 primary health clinics throughout Tanzania to explore the feasibility of integrating pediatric HIV prevention services with routine infant immunization visits.

Methods: We conducted interviews with 64 conveniently sampled mothers of infants who had received integrated HIV and immunization services and 16 providers who delivered the integrated services to qualitatively identify benefits and challenges of the intervention midway through project implementation.

Findings: Mothers' perceived benefits of the integrated services included time savings, opportunity to learn their child's HIV status and receive HIV treatment, if necessary.

Evaluation of using routine infant immunization visits to identify and follow-up HIV-exposed infants and their mothers in Tanzania.

Background: Without treatment, approximately half of HIV-infected infants die by age 2 years, and 80% die before age 5 years. Early identification of HIV-infected and HIV-exposed infants provides opportunities for life-saving interventions. We evaluated integration of HIV-related services with routine infant immunization in Tanzania.