2022-07-05-世界卫生组织-Immunization_Saudi_Arabia_2022_country_profile_16页_340kb

Summary of WHO and UNICEF Immunization Coverage Estimates for Saudi Arabia (2021 Revision)

Overview

This report outlines immunization coverage estimates provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF for Saudi Arabia, based on data received as of July 7, 2022. The estimates pertain to the 2021 revision and were published on July 8, 2022, with the next revision scheduled for July 15, 2023. These country-specific estimates reflect national immunization programs and aim to track coverage for key vaccines against preventable diseases.

Methodology

• Estimation relies primarily on data reported by national authorities, electronic registration systems, and administrative records, with adjustments to account for uncertainties.
• A Grade of Confidence (GoC) is assigned to each estimate, categorized as:
  • R+: Well-supported by reported data.
  • D or S-: Data challenges or weak empirical support.
  • No data: Insufficient information.
• No confidence intervals or subjective ranges are provided. Data quality varies, and estimates should be used cautiously, as surveys are recommended for validation.

Key Findings

• Immunization coverage across major vaccines (e.g., BCG, DTP, Pol3, MCV) remains high, generally ranging from 95% to 99%:
  • BCG coverage progressively estimated and challenged by data limitations.
  • DTP1 and DTP3 show consistent high coverage (>97%) with minimal variation.
  • Pol3 coverage mostly stable but dropped to 97% in some years.
  • Hepatitis B, Measles, and other indicators like HepB3 show variability: HepB3 coverage, for instance, ranged from 52% to 98% depending on years, with interpolation used in 2019 due to missing data.
• Data sources are predominantly administrative, with no recent household surveys recommended, increasing the risk of inaccuracies due to potential stockouts, administrative errors, or data biases.
• Common themes include sustained high coverage but variability in specific years, such as 2019, where interpolation was necessary. Electronic registration introduced in 2020 improved data flow but still lacked survey confirmation.

Data Quality and Limitations

• All estimates acknowledged varying data quality, with GoC reflecting empirical support rather than data reliability judgments.
• Challenges include vaccine stockouts, forecast inaccuracies, and interpolation where no direct data exists (e.g., RCV1 estimates based on MCV1 without standalone rubella data).
• Strong recommendations: High-quality surveys are urged to confirm coverage levels, as current methods depend on potentially biased national reports.

Access and Further Information

• Detailed data and previous years' estimates are available at:
  • https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-health/immunization/
  • https://immunizationdata.who.int/listing.html
• The report emphasizes that estimates should be used carefully in practice to avoid misinterpretation.

Overall, Saudi Arabia's immunization programs exhibit high performance for most indicators, but ongoing data collection improvements are needed to ensure reliable coverage assessments.