Abstract

PIP: Since 1979 in India, the health center in Malavani, a Bombay slum, has tried different methods to vaccinate the largest possible number of newborns and children. Methods used to vaccinate infants and children included clinic visits to subcenters or to a health center, vaccination of siblings of students at primary schools, visits in a designated place in the community, and home visits by a health center team with the participation of local leaders and benevolent organizations, with the participation of medical and paramedical students, by a health center team with no community participation, or by primary school students who persuaded mothers to take their children to the mobile vaccination unit. A review of the vaccination records shows that, in the case of first vaccinations for DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus) and polio conducted by door-to-door visits, follow-up vaccinations had been better and the costs lower when primary school students made home visits encouraging mothers to take their children to a mobile vaccination unit and with participation of local benevolent organizations. Overall, third dose coverage for these two vaccinations was higher with community participation (regardless of type of community participation) than without it (78% vs. 67%). Without doubt, community participation has a favorable effect on vaccination coverage.