A systematic review of vaccine availability at the national, district, and health facility level in the WHO African Region.
INTRODUCTION
To describe vaccine stock-outs at national, district, and health facility levels in the WHO African region.


AREAS COVERED
We conducted a systematic review to identify studies reporting on vaccine stock-outs at national, district, and health facility levels in 47 African countries. We searched both published and unpublished literature, including the WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form (JRF), for eligible studies.


EXPERT OPINION
Countries within the WHO African region continue to face the challenge of vaccine stock-outs at national, district, and health facility levels and this impacts on the delivery of immunization services. The frequency and the proportion of stock-outs vary between countries and between regions within a country. Countries need to put more efforts toward finding lasting solutions to vaccine shortages. We look forward to having more countries reporting vaccine stock-outs especially at the health facility level. Furthermore, countries are currently exploring different approaches for improving vaccine stock management. It is expected that in half a decade from now, more well-designed studies will be available that will inform decision-making.
['Iwu|Chinwe Juliana|CJ|0000-0003-0765-7497', 'Ngcobo|Ntombehle|N|0000-0002-9666-6127', 'Jaca|Anelisa|A|0000-0002-9814-8374', 'Wiyeh|Alison|A|0000-0003-0417-3948', 'Pienaar|Elizabeth|E|', 'Chikte|Usuf|U|0000-0002-7985-2278', 'Wiysonge|Charles S|CS|0000-0002-1273-4779']
D000349:Africa D006268:Health Facilities D006801:Humans D014611:Vaccination D014612:Vaccines D014944:World Health Organization
Vaccines availability stock-outs immunization shortages WHO Africa supply chain