La evaluación en los programas de vacunación

Abstract

In evaluating vaccination porgrams it should be borne in mind that planning and evauation are inseparably linked and that specific objectives must be clearly defined from the inception of the program, for without them evaluation will have little meaning. The principal task of evaluation is to determine whether or not an immunization program has succeeded in reducing the incidence of the disease in question, which requires the continuing surveillance of the status of the disease. That procedure may be termed "primary evaluation" and should be followed by a "secondary evaluation" consisting of certain procedures designed to check results

Among secondary evaluation procedures, the following are the most critical: 1) vaccine efficacy, which should be verified beyond any doubt before its application; 2) vaccine coverage, which related the principal objective of the program and requires the establishment of a reliable checking system; and 3) surveillance system, which includes such important evaluation aspects as a check of the number of cases reported, and of the promptness and frequency with which control measures are taken

Further evaluation procedures are the cost-benefit analysis, and the establishment of a reporting system of minimum information required for evaluation. It is pointed out, however, that in checking and comparing results there is no substitute for personal observation in ... (AU)