Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6667
Title: Immunization Coverage, Equity, and Access for Children with Disabilities: A Scoping Review of Challenges, Strategies, and Lessons Learned to Reduce the Number of Zero-Dose Children
Authors: Musuka Godfrey
Diego F. Cuadros
Miller F. DeWolfe
Zindoga Mukandavire
Dhliwayo Tapiwa
Patrick Gad Iradukunda
Oscar Mano
Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, Harare P.O. Box 0002, Zimbabwe
Digital Epidemiology Laboratory, Digital Futures, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
Department of Tropical Medicine and Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Institute of Applied Research and Technology, Emirates Aviation University, Dubai P.O. Box 53044, United Arab Emirates
Department of Community Medicine, Midlands State University, Gweru P.O. Box 9055, Zimbabwe
Rwanda Food and Drug Authority, Kigali P.O. Box 3243, Rwanda
Department of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, South Africa
School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; ICAP in Zimbabwe, Harare P.O. Box 263, Zimbabwe
Keywords: Immunization equity
Children with disabilities
Low- and middle-income countries
Vaccine barriers
Vaccination strategies
Inclusive healthcare
Issue Date: 2025
Publisher: MDPI
Abstract: Background: Children with disabilities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), face heightened risks of vaccine-preventable diseases due to a range of systemic and social barriers. Although immunization is a fundamental human right and a proven public health intervention, this vulnerable group is often overlooked in policy and practice. Understanding the factors compromising vaccine equity for these children is critical to reducing zero-dose prevalence and improving health outcomes. Methods: This scoping review examined peer-reviewed, gray literature from 2010 to 2024. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and relevant organizational reports (WHO, UNICEF). Studies addressing children with disabilities and focusing on immunization barriers, interventions, or lessons learned were selected. English-language publications were screened in title/abstract and full-text stages. Key data extracted included population, barriers, and immunization outcomes. Since this review focused on articles in English, this is a key limitation. Results were synthesized thematically to identify recurring patterns and to guide improved interventions and policies. Results: Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria. Key barriers identified were inadequate healthcare infrastructure, insufficient provider training, limited follow-up services in rural regions, societal stigma, and pervasive misconceptions around both disability and vaccines. Factors such as maternal education, logistical support for caregivers, and using low-sensory, inclusive vaccination settings were consistently linked with better outcomes. Effective strategies included mobile vaccination units, tailored interventions (e.g., distraction or sedation techniques), school-based immunization programs, and robust community engagement to address stigma. Lessons learned underscored the importance of flexible, individualized care plans and empowering families through transparent communication. Conclusions: Children with disabilities continue to experience significant gaps in immunization coverage, driven by intersecting barriers at the individual, health system, and societal levels. Scaling tailored interventions, inclusive policies, strengthened infrastructure, and ongoing research can help ensure these children receive equitable access to life-saving vaccinations.
URI: https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6667
Appears in Collections:Research Papers

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
vaccines-13-00377.pdfFulltext878.49 kBAdobe PDFView/Open
Show full item record

Page view(s)

26
checked on Aug 5, 2025

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Items in MSUIR are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.