Strengthening immunization in the second year of life (2YL)

The Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) calls for taking a ‘life-course’ approach to vaccination in order to extend the benefits of immunization to all at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases in every age group. WHO recommends that all countries include a second dose of measles-containing vaccine in their routine immunization schedules and that three booster doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccine be given starting from the second year of life (2YL) through 15 years of age. While many countries already have policies for doing so, they still face challenges in achieving high coverage for 2YL vaccination. Other countries have yet to introduce these doses.

In 2015-2017, the World Health Organization enlisted technical support from JSI to conduct case studies in two countries (Zambia and Senegal) to identify barriers, enabling factors, and promising practices for improving 2YL vaccination performance.

Building on the findings as well as experience in other countries, JSI worked with WHO to prepare a country guidance document entitled Establishing and strengthening immunization in the second year of life: Practices for vaccination beyond infancy.

Published in 2018, it provides practical guidance and tools for introducing and improving immunization in the second year of life and beyond. It also suggests ways that immunization visits during the 2YL can be used as a platform for delivery of other child health services.