Increasing childhood immunisation coverage in displaced Myanmar populations

Many displaced and migrant children living along the Thailand-Myanmar border miss routine vaccinations because their families face barriers such as frequent movement, limited documentation, language differences and reduced access to healthcare.

This project is identifying why children miss vaccines and working with communities and health providers to develop practical, evidence-based solutions that improve access to immunisation and increase vaccination coverage.

Project details

The project focuses on displaced and migrant Myanmar communities living along the Thailand-Myanmar border. It investigates the behavioural, social and practical factors that influence childhood vaccination and uses this evidence to develop strategies that can be integrated into existing immunisation programs and policies.

Objectives

The project aims to:

identify why some children miss routine vaccinations
understand the behavioural, social and practical factors that influence vaccination decisions
co-design evidence-based strategies with communities and health services to improve vaccine access and uptake
strengthen immunisation programs to reach zero-dose and under-immunised children
contribute to the global evidence base for immunisation in humanitarian and displacement settings.

Approach

The project uses the World Health Organization's Behavioural and Social Drivers (BeSD) of Vaccination framework to understand the factors influencing childhood immunisation.

Researchers are conducting surveys and interviews with caregivers, community leaders, healthcare workers and immunisation program managers to identify barriers and opportunities to improve vaccine uptake.

The findings will inform practical strategies that can be embedded within existing immunisation programs and policies.

These strategies aim to:

strengthen service delivery
improve vaccination coverage among vulnerable populations
support governments and organisations to design more effective and equitable immunisation programs.