Increasing Access to and Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccination in Liberia

Challenges persisted, including limited access to vaccines in certain regions, low uptake in priority groups, and the lack of integration of the vaccine into the routine Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) system. The private health sector, comprising over 40% of the country's caregivers, had limited involvement in efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake and integration. To address these challenges, USAID's Frontier Health Markets (FHM) Engage collaborated with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and two local organizations, DKT International Liberia and the Healthcare Federation of Liberia. The goal was to integrate the COVID-19 vaccine into routine immunization in private facilities. FHM Engage worked with DKT International Liberia to engage community mobilizers who visited schools, slum communities, and street corners to raise awareness of the benefits of immunization and family planning (FP). A 10-day outreach exercise was conducted to ensure vaccines, immunization supplies, and FP products were available at health facilities, schools, and community sites. During this time, 118 persons were immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine, along with several others who received routine childhood vaccines. In addition, a variety of FP products were provided on request. The exercise also employed a referral system, which registered eligible community members who were sensitized about the vaccine initiative during the event and agreed to receive services later. A total of 714 community members were given referral cards, and follow-up plans were made to ensure they received immunization and FP services as eligibility allowed. The initiative demonstrated the effectiveness of community outreach and integration of health services in increasing vaccine uptake in private facilities. Local community members reported positive experiences with the vaccine, with one community member stating, "There is rumor about the COVID vaccine making people sick, but when I took this vaccine, I never got sick, so I brought three of my friends today to take their vaccine." This success highlights the potential for collaborative efforts between government, local organizations, and community members to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates in Liberia. The integration of COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization in private facilities has shown promise in increasing vaccine uptake. By leveraging the social marketing approach of DKT International Liberia and collaborating with health facilities, county, and district health officers, FHM Engage was able to catalyze a significant increase in COVID-19 vaccination rates. This model can be replicated in other areas to improve access to and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in priority or at-risk groups.