Zero-Dose Learning Hub: Key Resources Produced on Advancing Equity Through Evidence
December 30th, 2024 | viewpoint
In 2024, the Zero-Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH), funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and led by JSI, continued to capture, synthesize, and disseminate learnings across the Alliance, other implementing partners and funders, and regional and global networks to inform policy, guidance, and programming for achieving universal vaccine coverage and ensuring no child is left behind with life-saving vaccines.
This work included publishing more than 40 resources based on primary research and evidence syntheses. From practical toolkits designed to support researchers to in-depth political economy assessments that explore the barriers to immunization to peer-reviewed journal articles, these publications reflect ZDLH’s ongoing commitment to reaching zero-dose (ZD) children and strengthening immunization systems worldwide.
The following resource highlights feature the ZDLH’s top publications from the year, organized within Gavi’s Identify-Reach-Monitor-Measure-Advocate (IRMMA) Framework, designed to guide immunization research and implementation.
Identify
Accurately identifying ZD and under-immunized children (UI) is the first step to addressing immunization inequities. Rapid assessments in Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda explored the prevalence, distribution, and factors associated with ZD and UI children. In Bangladesh, a lot quality assurance sampling survey provided critical insights into ZD and UI children in selected areas. These efforts provided actionable data to guide targeted immunization strategies and inform future interventions.
Further reading:
- Identifying the Zero-dose and Under-immunized Children in Bangladesh: Approaches and Experiences
- Identification des enfants zéro dose et sous-vaccinés au Mali en 2023
- Exploring the Landscape of Routine Immunization in Nigeria: A Scoping Review of Barriers and Facilitators
- Zero-Dose Learning Hub Nigeria Learning Agenda Workshop Report
- Sub-National Budget Analysis Focusing on Immunization Under the Nigeria Zero-Dose Learning Hub Consortium in Nigeria
- Uganda Zero-Dose Learning Agenda
Reach
Reaching ZD and UI children demands precise and reliable data to understand where they live and their barriers to vaccine access. ZDLH hosted a webinar series during which experts from the Gavi learning hubs in Bangladesh, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda shared innovative approaches to identify and vaccinate ZD and UI children, focusing on tailored, community-based solutions supported by high-quality data.
Access the recordings and other materials:
- Vaccinating Every Child: Promising Strategies for Reaching Zero-Dose Children in Bangladesh & Nigeria
- Vaccinating Every Child: Promising Strategies for Reaching Zero-Dose Children in Mali & Uganda
- Pro-Equity Strategies to Reach Zero-Dose Children
- Country Learning Hub Spotlights: Reflections on Identifying and Reaching Zero-Dose Children
- Equity in Action: Local Strategies for Reaching Zero-Dose Children and Communities
Monitor and Measure
Monitoring and measuring progress is critical to understanding the impact of strategies aimed at reaching ZD and UI children. This year, ZDLH published an article in Vaccines that provides a rationale for using flexible age cohorts to measure key indicators related to ZD, UI, and timeliness of immunization in the context of targeted local surveys. The article underscores the importance of using evidence to identify gaps and guide effective, data-driven decision-making in immunization programs.
Journal article: Measuring Zero-Dose Children: Reflections on Age Cohort Flexibilities for Targeted Immunization Surveys at the Local Level
Additional content:
Advocate
In 2024, ZDLH developed the Knowledge Translation for Zero-Dose Immunization Research toolkit to bridge the gap between research and action. This step-by-step guide equips researchers with practical tools and strategies to transform research findings into evidence-based policies and practices. It emphasizes stakeholder engagement, clear communication, and actionable goals, providing guiding questions, resource links, and examples tailored to ZD immunization research. By addressing barriers to knowledge uptake and promoting the use of evidence to inform decision-making, the toolkit aims to close the know-do gap to advance immunization equity.
Access the toolkit in English and French:
- Knowledge Translation for Zero-Dose Immunization Research
- Application des connaissances pour la recherche sur la vaccination zéro-dose
Additional Reading
For more information on the ZDLH’s accomplishments this year, please refer to the May and October 2024 semiannual updates. Looking ahead, the ZDLH remains committed to producing evidence-driven resources that can inform policy, guide program implementation, and foster collaboration. Learn more at ZDLH.Gavi.Org.
