The widespread use of multidose vaccine containers in low- and middle- income countries’ immunization programs is assumed to offer benefits and efficiencies for health systems, such as reducing the purchase price per vaccine dose and easing cold chain requirements.
In the balance between achieving high coverage and avoiding wastage in Vietnam’s immunization program, HCWs and program managers prioritize coverage, which results in some wastage of vaccines that are presented in multi-dose vials. Immunization sessions are held relatively infrequently in Vietnam; thus, achieving coverage and timeliness goals requires much effort to mobilize caregivers to bring their children into the health facilities and to outreach points at the right time. HCWs appear to understand and cope well with national policies and procedures. Given the relative infrequency of sessions and the national policy of discarding vials after each session, decisions on changing DPC require careful consideration by national, provincial, and district-levels of the relative costs and benefits as they apply to the Vietnamese context.
This document is intended to provide stakeholders evidence to guide informed, sustainable decisions on dose per container when considering vaccine products and program design. JSI, Dose per Container Partnership. 2018.
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