Ethiopia missed opportunities for vaccination study: Cluster-randomized evaluation of 5-dose measles vaccine vials and a flexible open-vial policy, 2021-2022.
VaccineAug 20, 2026 (epub)
Aaron S Wallace, Ciara Sugerman, Bezawit Getachew et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial in Ethiopia evaluated the impact of switching from 10-dose to 5-dose measles vaccine vials on vaccination coverage and wastage. The study found that the 5-dose switch significantly improved timely first-dose coverage by 18% and second-dose coverage by 17%, while reducing wastage by 7%.
Key findings
- Timely MCV1 coverage at 9 months increased by 18% in the 5-dose switch group.
- MCV2 coverage rose by 17% in the 5-dose switch group.
- Wastage of measles vaccine doses decreased by 7% with the 5-dose intervention.
- 29% of health workers in the 5-dose group opened vials ≥10 times monthly.
Why it matters
Improving measles vaccination coverage and reducing wastage are critical for enhancing public health outcomes and achieving measles elimination goals. This study provides evidence that changing vial sizes can effectively address operational barriers in vaccination programs.