RVV Findings: Post Introduction Evaluation (PIE) RVV PIE

In 2016, India became the first country in the WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR) to introduce the rotavirus vaccine (RVV) in the routine immunization programme. The expansion happened in phases and between 2016-2018, 11 states introduced RVV, covering 56.4% of India’s birth cohort. In 2019, under the “100 days agenda” of the National Government, RVV was expanded to the remaining 25 states/UTs.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), decided to conduct the RVV PIE from 21st - 29th March

Key Findings

2022, to assess the programmatic experience and impact of the introduction of rotavirus vaccine under UIP.

The field teams had a total of 64 evaluators from 16 immunization partner agencies including WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, BMGF, CDC, ITSU, NCCVMRC, INCLEN, RTI International, PATH, JHPIEGO, CHAI, CHRD-SAS, Plan India, CMC Vellore, and JSI. Under the guidance of the Immunization Division, MoHFW, JSI coordinated with all stakeholders for the successful conduct of the PIE.

a. Strengths:

• Political commitment at all the levels including strong national and state level programme leadership.

• Well-planned preparedness assessment and other pre introduction activities (cold chain space b. Challenges:

• Assessment and gap mitigation, strengthening of AEFI surveillance, job aids for FLWs, etc) and clear implementation guidelines.

• Availability of domestic RVV products, securing vaccines well ahead of roll out and close monitoring of immunization supply chain.

• Support from immunization partners in the vaccine roll out.

• Use of standard training packages for the frontline workers, supervisors and programme managers and close monitoring of training quality.

• Intensified communication and advocacy activities which included ceremonial launches by political leaders and senior government officials, media sensitization workshops, use of social media platforms (WhatsApp and Facebook), key stakeholders mapping and interaction, use of posters, banners, IPC by FLWs, etc.

• Many innovations at the national level such as obviating the need for buffer prior to actual vaccine (Rotavac®) administration based on scientific evidence, change in the position of VVM from body of the vial to cap to ensure that opened vials are not used beyond recommended time, change in the size and colour of RVV dropper to avoid confusion with the OPV dropper, provision of two syringes with Rotasiil®.

• No disruption of supply of RI vaccines during the COVID 19 pandemic.

• Shortage and lack of rational deployment of ANMs.

• In few areas there is lack of awareness of the community for immunization.

• Fear of AEFI amongst caregivers.

• Local issues with the guidelines for Alternate Vaccine Delivery (AVD) for the last mile vaccine supply to the session sites.